Team Herald
PANJIM: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Old Goa has requested the Commissioner for Exposition to take due cognisance of the letter and to facilitate the removal of works undertaken during the exposition of the relics of St Francis Xavier, on an immediate basis.
In September last year, the ASI had granted permission to the Public Works Department (PWD) to carry out certain works in view of the decennial 45 days exposition of St Francis Xavier at Old Goa subject to certain terms of condition.
The PWD was also requested to give an undertaking before starting works as per Clause 7 of the permission. The said condition was not complied with. Further, vide Clause No. 1 of the said permission, the PWD was also required to remove these works (except the permanent toilet block at Se Cathedral) upon conclusion of the exposition. The said works have also not been removed so far as per the inspection carried out by the ASI superintending archaeologist.
The letter further states that a complaint in this regard has also been received from John B Mascarenhas of Varcondem, Ponda. The ASI has asked the PWD to take due cognisance of the letter and to facilitate the removal of the works on an immediate basis.
The copy of the letter has also been forwarded to the
North Goa Collector, Tiswadi Taluka Mamlatdar, Old Goa Police and the Se Old Goa Village Panchayat.
After the conclusion of the exposition, John Mascarenhas had written to the concerned authorities to remove temporary structures built within the prohibited areas of Old Goa. He had also pointed out that the one of the conditions laid down while granting permissions was that the PWD would remove all temporary and semi-permanent structures within 10 days after the e4xpsoition was completed. Mascarenhas has also filed a public interest litigation (PIL) writ petition in the High Court of Bombay T Goa seeking removal of illegal structures in and around Old Goa.