PANJIM: Following apprehensions raised by section of heritage lovers over the Central government’s ‘Adopt a Heritage’ scheme, the Goa Government is now making efforts to get itself included in the Union Tourism Ministry’s ambitious Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spirituality Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) scheme for central grants to revive infrastructure of the protected monuments of archaeological importance.
Goa Archives and Archaeology department has been communicating with the Central government to cover the State under Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spirituality Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) scheme. The scheme aims at integrated development of pilgrimage destinations in planned, prioritized and sustainable manner to provide complete religious tourism experience. Minister for Archives and Archaeology Vijai Sardesai said the talks are on with the Central government so that the infrastructure at the heritage monuments and places of archaeologically importance could be taken up for upgradation under Central Government funds.
He said the discussions are right now going on and State government is optimistic that the Central government will consider the proposal from Goa.
Ministry of Tourism, under PRASAD scheme, has listed twelve cities including Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh), Gaya (Bihar), Dwarka (Gujarat), Amritsar (Punjab), Ajmer (Rajasthan), Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu), Vailankanni (Tamil Nadu), Puri (Odisha), Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Mathura (Uttar Pradesh), Kedarnath (Uttarakhand) and Kamkhya (Assam).
“There were fears that under Adopt a Heritage scheme of Central Government, we would hand over our monuments to private parties. In order to rule out any apprehensions, State government has decided to put up the infrastructure under the centrally sponsored scheme,” a senior officer said.
As many as 17 State monuments were proposed for adoption by the Centre that include Churches of Old Goa- Basilica of Bom Jesus, and the two iconic forts, Aguada fort and lighthouse, Morjim beach among others. While the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) maintains world heritage church complex at Old Goa, the others come under the protected list of Archaeology Department. Historians and heritage experts had expressed their reservation over handling over archeologically important sites to private parties.
