Team Herald
MARGAO: A comprehensive masterplan to protect the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Old Goa got a significant push on Friday as the Save Old-Goa Action Committee (SOGAC) submitted an additional 9,000 petitions to the State government. With the total number of petitions touching 14,000 in the run-up to the exposition of 'Amcho Goencho Saib', the government will find it difficult to not come up with an adequate response.
In their letter accompanying the petitions, the SOGAC noted that they had previously submitted 4,500 petitions on September 25, expressing opposition to multiple projects in the area. Peter Viegas, SOGAC Convener, stated, "As of now, we have submitted 13,585 applications and the people of Goa will continue this drive." He urged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to investigate illegal activities that could jeopardise the sanctity of the world heritage sites and the sacred ecosystem of the area.
Before submitting the petitions, committee members also visited the Bom Jesus Basilica to seek blessings. "This application includes support from people in nearly six villages across Goa. This drive will continue in all the talukas of Goa, as the community does not want large projects in Old Goa. A master plan is essential," he stated.
He also stated that they will continue to submit petitions to the CM until the beginning of the exposition of Saint Francis Xavier.
The 12 proposed projects that have faced opposition from the community include four farmhouses, floating jetties, and a planned Sagarmala jetty. Additional concerns involve illegal bungalows, a road construction that would touch the wall of the St. Francis Xavier Chapel, a heritage interpretation centre, a garbage treatment plant, a chocolate exhibition centre, 21 ghost house numbers, a laterite resort initiated by the IPB, land conversions in specific survey numbers, and a bungalow with a helipad at the Madkaikar estate.