FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: The speakers on Sunday appealed to volunteers to temporarily suspend their ongoing satyagraha to demolish illegal bungalow at Old Goa in view of monsoon even as the protest completed 200 days.
The Save Goa Action Committee, which is spearheading the protest to demand the demolition of the illegal bungalow within the precints of world heritage site at Old Goa welcomed the Goa government’s decision to demarcate100 metres `no construction buffer zone’ around the protected monuments and demanded to expedite the process to demolish the illegal structure.
Appreciating the ongoing fight by the people to protect Goa’s heritage, Capt Viriato Fernandes said, “We appreciate the fight which is selfless. The people are fighting to protect heritage which our forefathers preserved and save it for younger generation. I request volunteers to defer their ongoing protest during rains and make it a symbolic by holding protest once in every week till monsoon subsides.”
Addressing the crowd, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Amit Patkar appealed to the volunteers to restrain their for next three to four months due to rains and assured them that the Congress MLAs will raise the issue in the monsoon session of Assembly starting next month.
Stating that he has been supporting the Save Goa Action Committee to demolish the illegal bungalow built within the heritage area, St Cruz MLA Rudolf Fernandes said that he will vociferously pursue this matter in the Assembly.
Chicalim Parish Priest Fr Bolmax Pereira said, “We are with the people in heart, soul and mind. Our fight will continue till illegal bungalow is demolished by the authorities.’ But he appealed to the protestors to avoid coming to Old Goa everyday due to rains and spurt in COVID-19 cases and to hold symbolic protests till rains subside.
Save Old Goa Action Committee convenor Fatima Pereira, Anthony D’Silva, Glen Cabral, architect Tahir Noronha, Fr Ezuco and Sanjay Barde were also present.
The speakers also slammed the Directorate of Panchayats for granting ex-parte stay to the demolition order issued by the Se Old Goa Village Panchayat after Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department revoked the licence.
