FRIDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2023
Team Herald
PANJIM: The Save Old Goa Action Committee on Monday submitted around 2,000 objection letters on the laterite resort project at Old Goa, taking the total number of objection letters on the project so far to 15,000.
The letters were submitted to the Director of Industries, Trade, and Commerce, urging him to reconsider the proposed project approved by the Investment Promotion and Facilitation Board (IPB) at Ela, Old Goa.
Speaking to O Heraldo, Save Old Goa Action Committee coordinator Peter Viegas said, “Today (Monday) we have submitted objection letters against the project, which is coming up on 10,000 sqm area. Earlier, we had submitted 13,000 objection letters and on Monday we submitted additional 2,000 objection letters.”
He demanded that the government come out with a master plan for Old Goa.
Viegas said that the Old Goa has been declared as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) world heritage site. Now the St Francis Xavier Exposition is scheduled next year. The government must come out with the master plan before the Exposition, he said warning that if the government fails to bring the master plan then the people of Old Goa, would be forced to take to streets.
Viegas said the Save Old Goa Action Committee ran a campaign drive against the project during the last 15 days.
Save Old Goa Action Committee president Fatima Pereira said, “The government had given 30 days’ time to submit objections. The deadline ended yesterday but as yesterday was Sunday, we have come to submit the objections today.”
The objections represent a collective voice from over 15,000 individuals, who have signed petitions expressing their concerns about the environmental and cultural impact of the IPB project.
The IPB had recently granted in-principle approval for setting up a luxury eco-resort in the heritage area of Ela, Old Goa. However, the Save Old Goa Action Committee (SOGAC) has objected to it and rallied Goans, especially from the neighbouring villages, to voice their objections regarding the project.
