Team Herald
PANJIM: Citizens for Democracy Goa on Monday called for urgent and decisive action to protect Old Goa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, from the increasing threat posed by illegal construction and poor regulatory enforcement.
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At a press conference, former bureaucrat Elvis Gomes and historian Prof Prajal Sakhardande announced that they had submitted recommendations to the Government of India, emphasising the need for a concerted, multi-pronged approach to safeguard Old Goa’s invaluable cultural and historical legacy.
They highlighted that, over the past two decades, there has been a disturbing rise in unauthorised buildings in and around Old Goa — an area celebrated for its unique architecture, religious significance, and Portuguese heritage. This unchecked development has significantly damaged its character and heritage value.
Reports suggest there are now over 70 illegal structures within the protected site. Despite the oversight responsibilities of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Goa Circle, and the Goa Archaeology Department, these violations persist, further eroding the site’s integrity.
To address this, they urged the State government and the ASI to jointly formulate and strictly implement a comprehensive heritage protection policy. This framework should safeguard both Portuguese-era and pre-Portuguese sites while promoting sustainable tourism practices that respect Old Goa’s authenticity.
They also recommended preparing a Heritage Master Plan to clearly identify protected zones and buffer areas, preventing further encroachments that threaten the site’s visual and cultural landscape.
Further, they demanded strong action against illegal constructions and proposed the relocation of the planned solid waste management (SWM) facility from the Kadamba plateau to a more environmentally appropriate site to avoid any harm to the heritage surroundings.
Stronger collaboration among the state government, local communities, heritage experts, and UNESCO was emphasised as essential for raising awareness and ensuring responsible site management.
Citizens for Democracy Goa, along with other heritage enthusiasts and experts, appealed to the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, to intervene immediately. They stressed that enforcing existing protection laws, preserving all layers of Old Goa’s history, and fostering sustainable tourism are crucial to prevent irreversible damage.
“With our knowledge, we have offered recommendations which, in our opinion, are crucial for safeguarding the World Heritage Site for posterity,” Gomes said.
When asked about the Old Goa police station housed in the Exposition Secretariat, Gomes replied, “We don’t know whether it is a permanent arrangement. We will take it up with the ASI, Goa Circle.”
Yogesh Nagvenkar and Avertino Miranda also attended the press briefing.
