Team Herald
CALANGUTE: The Candolim panchayat has asked the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Goa circle to demolish an illegal construction at Fort Aguada within 30 days.
Following complaints from residents about the illegal construction in Survey No. 90/0 at Aguada, Sinquerim, the Candolim Panchayat had served a show cause to the ASI on August 21. Following this, the ASI had replied claiming that the “work was for maintenance of the protected monuments”.
The demolition order on Wednesday states: “The ASI in its replies has placed reliance on Section 14, 2(F) and Section 19 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958, to contend that the Director General can carry out the subject work for maintenance of the protected monuments. As the subject work is new construction of visitors’ amenities like souvenir shop, medical infirmary and heritage interpretation centre, etc, which cannot be said to be ‘maintenance’ work in respect of the monuments which are protected, but this is new separate work. Further, it cannot be said that no permission is required, overriding the State laws such as Goa Panchayat Raj Act 1994. Even Goa Land Development and Building Construction Regulation 2010, is applicable to such type of work and contemplated permission to be taken from the village panchayat (competent authority). In the present case, ASI has not produced on records any construction licence from the village panchayat.”
Following a complaint by the Calangute Constituency Forum (CCF), the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) had conducted a site inspection of the alleged illegal structures being built in Survey No 96/O on September 2.
The GCZMA site inspection report states: “The undergoing work at the Upper Fort Aguada is part of the project taken up by the Archaeological Survey of India, Goa circle, and as informed by the ASI officials, the ongoing construction of RCC structure is of a heritage interpretation centre block, which will include an audio visual room, toilets, exhibition galleries, cafeteria, souvenir shop, ticket counter.
“The property falls in CRZ III (200500 mtr) as per CZMP 2011. The occupants are 1) Comunidade, 2) Govt of Goa Directorate of Tourism Panjim, measuring 3,13,630 sq. mts and 3) Government of India, Director of Lighthouses Lightships, Goa and admeasures 3,23,200 sq.mts.
“It was noted that construction of a huge RCC structure was in progress, and a total of 58 Nos. of columns were cast on the site along with plinth beams. As per the site measurements, the approximate floor area of the structure is 614.40 sq mts. It was noted that the alleged construction falls in the prohibited area from the protected archaeological site of ‘Aguada Fort’.
“The Archaeological Survey of India does not have any prior approval/permission from the GCZMA for the construction of the structure, nor could they produce any documents/NOC from any concerned department/ authority. The structure is in violation of the CRZ notifications and hence is illegal,” the GCZMA stated.