Team Herald
PANJIM: The Department of Archaeology is yet to receive investigation report from the North Goa Collector and the Goa Police regarding the burial of a person at the British Cemetery, Dona Paula, a protected monument, in May last year.
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The incident had come to light after Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) Councillor Nelson Cabral complained to the Commissioner Clen Madeira seeking investigation into the burial of a person on May 27, 2023, at the British Cemetery, Dona Paula, a protected monument as per the Goa Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1978 and Rules 1980.
Following a complaint, the CCP Commissioner wrote a letter to the Department of Archaeology to look into the matter.
In the past, the Department of Archaeology had submitted several complaints regarding unauthorised locking of gates by unknown persons at the British Cemetery and also about illegal structure erected inside the cemetery.
Accordingly, Director of Archaeology Dr Nilesh B Fal Dessai wrote to the North Goa Collector and the Superintendent of Police (SP), North, requesting them to investigate the matter and to lodge a complaint as per provisions of the ‘Indian Penal Code’ and Section 295 and section 441 and ‘The Goa Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1978 and Rules 1980’ and to take stern steps so as to ensure safety of the archaeological heritage of the State.
When contacted, Dr Fal Dessai said, “We have not received the investigation report yet. British Cemetery is a protected area under ‘The Goa Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act.’ It was a burial place earlier. Now it is a monument. Burial is not allowed there.”
Reacting to this, the Methodist Church Executive Board stated that the complainant and the letter written by Director of Archaeology seem to be an attempt to protect multiple illegal constructions in the buffer zone of the British Protestant cemetery. The Director of Archaeology had never passed any order against the religious customs of burial in the land granted for the said purpose under the erstwhile Portuguese regime. Burials have been recorded till the present day by statutory authorities and there exists no permanent structure in the cemetery which is being maintained by the owners.
