The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Goa circle has renewed its pressure on the State gov ernment to vacate the Old Goa Police Station and to demolish the temporary structure built for the de cennial Exposition in No vember 2024.
The ASI Goa Circle has written as many as five letters, three to the Secretary (Revenue), who was also the Exposition Commis sioner dated January 28, 2025 and two reminders on April 1, 2025 and May 1, 2025. However, no action was taken to remove the temporary semi-perma nent structure built during the Exposition. Later, the ASI wrote to the Chief Secretary on July 14, 2025 regarding the said matter and by another let ter dated September 18, 2025, it had once again requested the Chief Secretary to look into the matter and do the needful. Copies of the letter have also been forwarded to the Director (M-1), ASI, New Delhi.
All the letters have been written following a complaint by John Baptista Mascarenhas of Ponda. The Old Goa Police Sta tion was shifted to the Exposition Secretariat in April this year much to the chagrin of parishioners and activists.
They stated that the structure was temporarily built and had to be demolished within 10 days upon completion of the exposition. Mascarenhas has now written to the Director (Services), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Cadre Controlling Author ity, AGMUT Cadre about the flagrant violations of NMA con ditions by the Secretary (Revenue), IAS at Old Goa. Mascarenhas has stated the Secretary (Revenue) was du ty-bound to ensure compliance with Clause 1 of the NMA permission requiring removal of all temporary works after the exposition. By another letter, the ASI Goa Circle has recommended that based on its findings, the Archaeology department may take further necessary action as per the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Re mains Act (AMASR) Act for the protection of the excavation site where cannon balls were discovered and to conduct further archaeological excavation and research at the site after obtaining due permission from the Directorate Gen eral of ASI.
It has also suggested conservation and preser vation of the site accordingly. Following discovery of cannon balls during excavation in March this year, the ASI had asked the Goa Tourism Devel opment Corporation (GTDC) to keep the work on hold in order to carry out the archaeological investigation of the site. The ASI submitted its report to the GTDC in May this year hinting at discovery of more cultural vestiges if exca vation continues. In order to enhance visitor facilities at Old Goa, the State government had taken up the work of improving lighting for the monument, development of a parking area for 100 cars and 200 two-wheelers and an information centre under the Centrally-sponsored PRASAD (Pilgrimage Reju venation And Spiritual Augmentation Drive) Scheme. The work lighting had already been completed.