ASI hits out at church, action group
HERALD NEWS BUREAU
PANJIM, FEB 7
Dismissing allegations levelled by the Save Old Goa Action Committee as “baseless,” the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has also hit out at the church authorities for its “deplorable actions”.
Commenting on the recent protests at Old Goa, ASI Superintending Archaeologist Shivananda V in a press note stated that on January 24, a mob led by the local priest from Old Goa threw away the official materials from the office of the Horticulture Assistant and locked the room.
“Since then, the official material of that office is lying outside and the official is running his office from outside,” stated the press note.
“To cover up the illegal removal of the office of the Horticulture Assistant on January 24, a demonstration was organized to put ASI into pressure. Here I would like to add that cutting trees and destruction of environment going on around Old Goa as stated in the news item does not fall within the purview of ASI,” stated Shivananda in the press note.
“As far as the development around Old Goa is concerned, the ASI has issued show cause notices to all the illegal constructions/encroachments around the monuments with a copy marked to the local State government authorities,” adds the press note.
“As far as illegal occupation of the rooms by the ASI in the Archbishop’s Palace as mentioned in the daily, I would like to clarify that these rooms were in possession of the ASI for the last 30 years and Horticulture Branch was functioning form here,” said Shivananda.
“Without the permission of the ASI, the church authorities have opened the Kristu Art Gallery behind Se Cathedral and Sound and Light show in the Basilica of Bom Jesus,” states the press note.
“The Bom Jesus authorities have dismantled the original laterite compound wall despite instruction by the security personnel that there should not be more than one entry and opened a gate.”
“More recently, during the novena, the open space opposite the Basilica was levelled by the church authorities and laterite pavement was provided for pay parking even after this office has issued notice for stopping the work.”
“This work does not suit the ambience of the World Heritage Site. The church authorities have also trespassed into the property of the local MLA and dismantled the compound wall for which also the ASI has issued notice to local MLA. Hence, the action by the church authorities in removing the office of the Horticulture Branch is highly deplorable.”
“Activists should have gone to the press after analyzing the facts and knowing fully well about the World Heritage Site at Old Goa and the works being done by the ASI for its protection and preservation.”
“The church authorities or the Save Old Goa Action Committee who talk of the World Heritage Site at Old Goa are intentionally parking the vehicles in the vicinity of Se Cathedral and Basilica of Bom Jesus on Sundays especially, in spite of the objections from the ASI authorities.”
“When all these unauthorised things are carried out by the church authorities, they have no moral ground to allege ASI and the allegations appeared in the press do not form part of the duties of the ASI. Hence all the allegations made against the ASI are baseless,” added the press note.
