PANJIM: Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department on Wednesday constituted a technical expert committee to formulate a Heritage Conservation Policy for Portuguese-era structures in the State, which will not only protect these structures but also give them a new lease of life.
The technical expert committee is a sub-committee constituted under the TCP’s Conservation Committee headed by Minister Vijai Sardesai. The Committee has been directed to submit the draft policy before July 15, so that it can be placed before the House during the Monsoon session, for discussion and finalisation.
Speaking to Herald after the meeting, Sardesai said that a process is been initiated to frame a heritage conservation policy, whose guidelines would be based on the architectural nature of houses in conservation areas.
He said that various aspects like colour, texture of the structures besides other factors would be specified by the committee, which will be extensively covered under the policy.
Sardesai said the committee will begin work immediately and a comprehensive policy would be tabled during the next Assembly session.
The Minister said the policy will also decide on providing financial help for the protection and conservation of heritage structures. “Many of the heritage structure owners find it unaffordable to maintain their houses. Government will pitch with financial support for such units,” he said.
Sardesai said the policy will also envisage having a special corpus to provide financial help for the owners of heritage houses in the State.
The Committee had earlier asked the Charles Correa Foundation, which has been working towards heritage conservation, to document and list heritage buildings across Goa.
