Street Voices: Why illegal structures should be stopped from coming up at old Goa?

OLD GOA: Many builders and non Goans have set their eyes on the town of Old Goa. Old Goa is home to World Heritage Monuments. In this edition of Street Voices, we ask stakeholders why no illegal structures should be allowed in Old Goa and why is there a need for Master plan? Here are the responses…..

We do not want illegal constructions to come up in Old Goa because it is the only world heritage site in Goa, declared by UNESCO. We have to safeguard it because our tourism and our livelihood is dependent on it. Also the feast of St Francis Xavier and the Exposition takes place there. This is a sacred place, hence we need to protect it. If illegal constructions are allowed to come up here, there is no place for parking or any other amenities. If we do not keep the protected buffer zone, UNESCO will take away the World Heritage tag from the monuments located at Old Goa.

Peter Viegas, Coordinator Save Old Goa Action Committee

The question of not demolishing the illegal structures in Old Goa does not arise. The maximum number of illegal structures in Old Goa have to be demolished. And all the more when it is all blatantly done, especially the illegal bungalow at old Goa which has come up in the heritage site, in connivance of the most powerful people of India. And why is the Master Plan required for Old Goa? Without the Master Plan all the illegalities will spring up day in and day out. Without the Master Plan, the World Heritage Site the church of St Francis Xavier (Bom Jesus Basilica) and lot of other things of prime importance to the whole world and particularly to Indian and Goans, the tag of World Heritage Site will be taken away.

Anthony D’Silva, Social Activist

Master Plan for the World Heritage Site of Old Goa is the need of the hour. We have been requesting and demand the Goa government to initiate a Master Plan for Old Goa in order to safeguard the world heritage site. Ninety percent of the site is in the possession of the Archeological Survey of India and 10% are with the church. To safeguard this for the future generations we need quick action from the Goa Government as they have done during the 2024 Exposition. Just as they have conducted and executed a good plan for the Exposition in the same way I demand and request the government to come up with a good Master Plan for Old Goa

Mariano Ferrao, Social Activist