The Save Old Goa Action Committee has renewed its call for a comprehensive Master Plan for Old Goa, expressing disappointment with the Goa Government’s recently announced Heritage Policy, which covers over 200 sites. The committee argues that the Heritage Policy alone is inadequate to tackle the growing problems of illegal constructions and unchecked development within the UNESCO World Heritage area of Old Goa.
Coordinator Peter Viegas pointed to a report in O Heraldo revealing that 54 illegal structures—including bungalows, a police station, a heritage interpretation centre, hotels, casinos, jetties, and unmanaged waste—have already appeared in this protected zone.
The committee has submitted more than 34,000 petitions to the Chief Minister, urging swift government action and the creation of a binding master plan to preserve Old Goa’s historical and cultural heritage. They warn that without such a plan, unregulated development and encroachments will continue to threaten the area’s heritage.
Additionally, the committee raised concerns about specific violations, such as unauthorized road construction near the chapel of St. Francis Xavier—an important archaeological monument—and plans for a new police station adjacent to the UNESCO site, both of which allegedly breach heritage protection regulations.