PANJIM, MARCH 25
The Goa Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment) Bill, 2010 was introduced in the Assembly today.
The Goa Daman and Diu Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1978 in its present form hinders and prevents the government from carrying out restoration, renovation, re-erection and re-construction of ancient monuments and thereby numerous such monuments and sites have fallen in ruins.
The Bill proposes to amend the said act so as to facilitate the government to undertake restoration, renovation, re-erection and re-construction of ancient monuments and to put them to adaptive re-use without affecting their basic character, archaelogical, historical and heritage value.
The Bill further seeks to empower the government to authorize or permit necessary work in respect of ancient monuments for the restoration and also authorize or permit adaptive re-use of ancient monument for defraying its maintenance cost.
Government servants, professional and benefactors are required to be protected from legal proceedings.
Azgaonkar grilled: The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party today cornered the Sports Minister Babu Azgaonkar over the destruction of trees for the Sports City project.
It may be recalled the Sports Minister had assured the House last time that the number of trees required to be cut was only 2500 and said that if the Opposition proves that the number is more he would resign.
However in a written reply to the House on a question tabled by Mandrem MLA Laxmikant Parsekar, Azgaonkar has said that the survey of the site earmarked for the project has 7800 trees. “The minister should resign as the number is much more that he had assured the House,” Parsekar said.
Azgaonkar however said the Opposition had misinterpreted his statement.
“When the project was first planned the area earmarked was 20 lakh square meters and now we have reduced it to only 9 lakh taking the people’s views into consideration,” he stated.
“When I spoke about the trees I meant only agricultural trees and not the jungle trees,” he said.
Interestingly according to the reply the number of jungle trees was 7085 while the agricultural trees were 715.
govt officers: The Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly Pratapsingh Rane today threatened to punish the government officers over their absence from the officers gallery and the non-furnishing of proper replies.
During the Question Hour Opposition leader pointed out that some answers to questions were not given to which the Speaker was upset.
The Speaker was also agitated with the empty officers’ gallery in the assembly on Tuesday.
“The officers must give proper answers and guide the ministers,” Speaker said adding “they must also be present in the gallery whenever assembly is in session.”
“If they fail to do so I will punish them and make them stand in the House for one hour,” he said.
Chief Minister Digambar Kamat intervened and said directions have been issued to the officers to be present in the House gallery.
“There is no need for any direction the officers must come on their own as they are responsible for the public,” the Speaker said.
beach safety management: Concerned about the safety of tourists visiting Goa, the Goa government today proposed to set up a beach safety management on lines of Dristi’s beach safety management system.
Stating that tourism has been the mainstay of Goa’s economy, the said the tourists are our guest and their safety and security must be given the utmost priority.
He said though the ‘Advanced beach safety management system’ is in place, security and protection to the life of tourists in the state has been under question in view of a few incidents in the recent past.
“My government acknowledges the damage such incidents could harm the image of the state”, the chief minister said adding that his government desires to take up the confidence building measure by enhancing security of tourists. And he proposed to engage at least 1000 Goan youth under PPP mode.
Accordingly a provision of Rs 500 lakh is made in the budget 2010-11.
