Team Herald
PANJIM: Following a complaint from Goa Heritage Action Group (GHAG) to the Panjim Mayor, the casino advertisement on signage board giving information on the history of Jama Masjid has been removed.
GHAG, taking strong note of displaying advertisements of casinos on signboards of historical monuments and holy places, had complained to the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP).
Speaking to Herald, GHAG Chairperson and Historian Prajal Sakhardande said, “Coming across a casino advertisement under the historical monuments information signage board was a complete shock. I immediately complained to the Panjim Mayor. I am grateful to the Mayor for the fast action and immediate removal of the casino advertisement.”
He added, “I had done the information signage on all the temples, churches, mosques and other historical monuments in 2005 across Panjim, so that people can know its history. Casino advertisements on the information boards was a shocker. They should not have done this as it is a religious place.”
He said that display of advertisement on casinos and other gambling activity is not illegal but they cannot defile historical monuments, churches, temples and mosques’ historical boards.
Mayor Surendra Furtado said, “There are two advertising agencies in Panjim, who have taken those prime slots for advertising which pay the CCP an annual fee of Rs 6 lakh. I will have to check and confirm if the agencies have paid the fee for advertising but regardless of that I have acted on the complain and got the casino advertisement removed from the religious place.”
