MARGAO: The High Court (HC) of Bombay at Goa has issued notices to the authorities concerned in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), seeking the removal of illegal structures carrying on business activity within 300m of the centrally protected monument, the Basilica of Bom Jesus, at Old Goa.
The petitioner is seeking a thorough investigation into the violation of laws and regulations and holding erring officials responsible for the illegal construction.
The petitioner, Vasco Seby Dias, through his advocate Rohit Bras de Sa, submitted that the structures have been constructed without any permission from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), where the monument and its premises are nationally important and protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act 2010.
He further submitted to the court that illegal constructions in heritage sites can result in irreversible damage to culturally significant structures, including degradation of historical value, architectural authenticity, and overall heritage significance.
It was further submitted to the HC that several local authorities had allegedly failed to take action to halt illegal construction, stop commercial activities, and abate the nuisance of dry-wet waste being generated.
