Heavy machinery cannot
be used at historical sites
A shroud of mystery hangs over the artefacts that were allegedly carted off from the controversial excavation site at Old Goa. But instead of tracking them, the police have reportedly now started investigating a complaint of the Department of Tourism against the activists who have been relentlessly protesting against the ‘unauthorised activity’ at the site.
The questions that arise is whether the Portuguese era cannon balls found at the site are not artefacts of historical importance? It is pertinent to note that only after the activists reportedly highlighted that the excavation had thrown up old cannon balls at the site, the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) stepped in and work was stopped.
Cannons were a characteristic feature of the forts built by the Portuguese in Goa and were used as ammunition to fire at ships in the sea with devastating effect. Old Goa served as the administrative centre of Portuguese India for over two centuries and there could be several artefacts buried in the ground.
Such sensitive areas cannot be excavated using bulldozers and heavy machinery. Archaeological excavations provide invaluable information about human history, culture and the evolution of societies. Soil is carefully removed in layers, artifacts and features are documented and collected. After excavation, artifacts and data are analysed to reconstruct the past. It may be recalled that hundreds of protesters had staged a protest in Old Goa recently objecting to the large-scale felling of trees and excavation work at the site using heavy machinery which is recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Why no master
plan for Old Goa?
It appears from the front page news report "Old Goa project : No NOC given, says Church "(O Heraldo, March 27,2025) that certain elements of the PRASAD scheme were considered acceptable to the Church (even without preparing the Master Plan for the Old Goa world heritage site?).
Was this acceptance of certain elements of the project conveyed to the authorities by the one member old Goa Church committee in the year 2022?
Largely-attended meetings were regularly held at Old Goa during the last three years to protest against the illegal bungalow, other unauthorised projects and to highlight the urgent need to prepare the Master Plan for the Old Goa world heritage site.
There are no reports indicating that the one member old Goa Church committee briefed the concerned citizens on the PRASAD Scheme during any of these protest meetings.
Why are the unsustainable project plans near the Old Goa world heritage site kept hidden?
Wesley Edward Pereira, Raia
Eurico Santana da Silva
was a formidable Judge
In the demise of our retired High Court Judge Eurico Santana da Silva, we have lost a great and distinguished personality who above all was very humane and humble. A great Goan has now moved on to what one would say today is a better world.
Being a principled and proficient Judge is no easy task. As Martin Luther King famously said, ‘There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe nor politic nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right’. Our books of history will record that Justice Eurico da Silva gave his best not only during his over 38 years of Judicial Service but also at the various quasi-judicial bodies that he ably headed after his retirement as a High Court Judge.
The very eminent, calm and composed jurist should be a benchmark with every Judge aspiring to attain his level of performance, integrity and competence. Let us hope and be optimistic that the Judiciary remains as a pillar of hope to always ensure that Good Governance and the Rule of Law prevails.
Indeed, the very illustrious Eurico da Silva was a beacon, a rare fusion of knowledge and wisdom in the field of Law and Jurisprudence. May his Departed Soul Rest in Eternal Peace.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Tourists need clean
and decent toilets
It is an indisputable fact that tourists and people visiting Old Goa heritage sites need clean and decent toilets among other facilities.
During my tenure of over 10 years as guide/interpreter, taking care of various international groups arriving Old, Goa there were times when they wanted to visit the washroom and unfortunately the facilities available at site were very poorly maintained. Passengers often had to wait till suitable alternate arrangements were made elsewhere.
I have visited pilgrimage places in Portugal and Brazil where facilities provided for pilgrims are almost in line with what our Minister for Tourism Rohan Khaunte has explained on the floor of the house during the ongoing Assembly and what exactly the Govt intends to carry out.
A waiting room, clean toilets, exclusive area for nursing mothers, restaurant serving quality food at affordable rates, a health centre with wheel chair provision, souvenir shop, a multi lingual facilitation centre, especially those new to the place, etc. These are surely the need of the hour. I am aware that there have been a lot of accusations, misunderstandings and controversies about the birth of this ambitious project. If the concerned authorities have according to some people, failed in some way or the other to obtain necessary permissions, etc, in my humble opinion, let us resolve these problems by dialogue.
Let us appreciate the excellent work this government did for the last Exposition. Let us cooperate with the government to provide a world class pilgrimage centre. Let us keep aside our differences and unite as one big family irrespective of our religions, caste, creed and say with great pride in one loud voice that the government of the day has given Goa and particularly the Christian community, a much awaited world class facility for the people visiting Old Goa.
Ruben de Oliveira Fernandes, Alto Betim
Amnesty scheme is
a welcome sign
The State budget presented by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is out for all to see and while those in the ruling will say that it is a people-oriented budget, the Opposition will shout that it is an
election centric budget aimed at garnering votes for the next elections in 2027. Whatever it may be, the introduction of the amnesty scheme for registration of transfer of immovable property without paying additional penalty is indeed a welcome sign that will not only increase revenue for the state but will benefit thousands of people who have purchased flats/shops and other immovable property by executing conveyance agreements/deeds on a minimum value stamp paper.
Now under the amnesty scheme, they can get away by not paying any penalty and have their conveyance instruments duly stamped and endorsed by the government and thus regularised.
What amount of deficit stamp duty is payable or if there is reduction or remission in stamp duty and or a waiver in penalty to be charged on whole stamp duty to be paid or payable and will the government permit the subsequent registering of such old conveyance documents after availing the amnesty scheme is the question that the government will have to address to make the scheme successful.
Juino De Souza, Porvorim