CURCA: Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister Vijai Sardesai on Tuesday during an inspection directed his department to review permissions given to construct bungalows that could affect the 350-year-old ‘Our Lady of Rosary Church’ at Curca, Bambolim.
“The TCP department has approved two bungalows. If the approval and licences for construction are given it could break the fabric of the village, which is feared by the villagers. This issue was raised in the Legislative Assembly by MLA Francis Silveira and today I am here inspecting the site and I have protected my word,” Sardesai said, speaking to the media after the site inspection.
“After examining the site, I feel that no constructions can be allowed on slopes as it will involve hill cutting and I feel that the permission should be reviewed. I will direct TCP department to review it. Curca has to remain as Curca, it cannot become Santorini. The church is 350 years old and the stability of the slope will be an issue because of hill cutting,” Sardesai added.
Sending a word of caution to the builders, Sardesai said that Goan villages have to look like Goan villages. “We will not allow construction anywhere and we will be selective. If the person concerned is in trouble due to his investment and is going into a loss then we will try to help the person somewhere else,” he said.
“We have come here to save the Church but we also need to think about the builders. We are not allowing them to build here but the government is coming out with a TDR policy soon where the builder can hold on to the property and use the same floor area ratio somewhere else,” he said.
Silveira, who was present for the inspection said, “The villagers informed me about the illegal construction and told me that in 2012 the Panchayat denied permission but they got permission through the court. During the TCP demands I raised the issues and I informed the TCP minister about this the illegal construction.”
