PANAJI: Amid protests against a mega project at Old Goa World Heritage Site, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte clarified the project does not comprise a Mall as alleged by the Save Old Goa Action Committee (SOGAC) and concerned citizens. Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister Vishwajit Rane also claimed that no permissions have been granted for any new structures in the area’s heritage buffer zone.
“There is no mall coming up in Old Goa. This project is about infrastructure and improving facilities for pilgrims and tourists,” Khaunte told reporters this morning, assuring that concerns raised by Church authorities would be addressed.
Rane further warned of strict action against any unauthorized activities including tree cutting while claiming his department has not granted any permission for new structures.
“We have not given any permission for new buildings in the heritage buffer area and any unauthorized work will be dealt with strictly,” he said adding that 3,555 survey numbers will be notified as mangrove reserves within 45 days.
Amid the controversy, the project was temporarily halted after cannonballs were discovered at the site, indicating its historical significance. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has begun an assessment to determine the cultural value of the findings.
“The first and foremost thing we did was instruct the Tourism Department to stop work. We are now documenting the site to determine the extent of cultural deposits, which will take about two to three months,” ASI’s Goa in-charge Raghuvanshi confirmed at a press conference held jointly with Tourism Director Kedar Naik.
Naik also sought to clarify concerns about the nature of the project reiterating there is no Mall proposed at the site. “The PRASAD project includes a parking area, an information centre, monument lighting, a toilet block, and two shops,” he said. He asserted that all relevant stakeholders were consulted before work commenced, including the Church, local panchayat, and TCP department.
The project has also been mired in a dispute over local approvals. Old Goa Panchayat members claimed that work started without their authorization. “The panchayat has not given any permission,” a member stated during protests held on Sunday.
The tourism director, however, maintained that due process was followed. “We have applied to the panchayat, and we have all the required permissions, including TCP clearance.” However, he did not confirm whether a No Objection Certificate (NOC) had been obtained from the panchayat before construction began.
SOGAC and other protestors argue that the project’s location, near the St. Francis of Assisi Church, falls within the regulated buffer zone of UNESCO monuments. ASI officials clarified that while the site is within a regulated area, it does not fall under the prohibited 100-meter zone. “The National Monuments Authority (NMA) has given clearance for the project,” Raghuvanshi said.
