03 Dec 2020  |   05:33am IST

Vijai says GPPDA decision was due to ‘power of the opposition’

Team Herald

margao: The Goa Forward Party (GFP) President Vijai Sardesai said that the scrapping of the proposal for the inclusion of Old Goa in the Greater Panaji PDA (GPPDA) is the ‘power of opposition’.

Vijai has been congratulated in this regard, by Rohit Jigyasu, Vice President, ICOMOS, International Council on Monuments and sites via a tweet. 

 It may be recalled that on Tuesday, the State announced that the TCP and GPPDA had scrapped the proposal for the inclusion of the Old Goa and villages into the planning area. GFP had also written to UNESCO and the Union Minister for Tourism and Culture asking for their intervention to stop the plan. 

In a series of tweets, Vijai began by saying, "I am so proud of all Goemkars who stood with us to save Old Goa. While (Chandrakant) Babu Kavlekar says his department studied the situation, we will remain vigilant to ensure the government finds no loopholes. 

“Goencho Saib’s blessing is on all of us. Our UNESCO World Heritage sites have been protected. I pray that Goencho Saib protects us all during these challenging times and keeps us united as one people, one community, one Goa,” he added further. 

The former Archives & Archeology Minister also opined that Goans can develop as a society and community by protecting and preserving our culture and heritage.

"We are proud defenders of our heritage, we are proud ambassadors of our lifestyle, and we are proud protectors of our culture. But most importantly we are proud Goans committed to safeguarding our identity, and the future of our children. Together we will pave the way forward" said Vijai.