PANJIM: Providing financial help for the protection and conservation of heritage structures in the private properties and nominating and empowering local governing bodies like panchayats and municipalities as ‘caretakers’ of these architectural wonders of local importance are the key points that are likely to be part of the State Heritage Policy, which is currently being drafted.
The Department of Town and Country Planning’s (TCP) conservation committee had constituted a sub-committee of experts to draft the State Heritage Policy that would decide on the conservation and protection of heritage structures besides giving them a particular look. The policy will speak of the various aspects like colour, texture of the structures and other factors.
Sources revealed that during a recent meeting the sub-committee has decided to undertake documentation of all heritage structures, monuments and sites, which are protected and are known but have not been granted protection. The committee has decided to rope in Goa College of Architecture for the documentation.
There are 51 monuments and structures under the protected category. This includes ruins, chapels, convents, church, temples, forts, caves and others.
“There are several heritage and archaeological important structures identified in the private areas and the landlords find those structures a burden as their maintenance and protection is an expensive affair,” sources said.
The committee members deliberated that in bid to grant protection to such structures in private land, the government will have to provide financial support to the land owners and also encourage them to develop the area for heritage tourism.
“Apart from these, there are several architectural wonders which are of local importance. They could be as old as 50 years. As per law, Archaeology Department cannot declare them protected and also it is not practically possible for them to maintain it,” sources said.
“Hence, the expert members were of the opinion that we should empower local bodies and declare them as caretakers of those structures. We will provide them incentive to maintain such structures,” sources added.
The policy was to be placed before State Assembly during the Monsoon Session. However, it got delayed.
