PANJIM: The State Government on Wednesday decided not to go ahead with its proposed formation of Urban Arts Commission but instead to set up a Design Advisory Panel (DAP) which will work towards preserving, developing and maintaining the Architectural heritage of Goa.
At the beginning, the minister said that DAP would be applicable, during first phase, to the areas where there is Outline Development Plan and Heritage Areas such as Assagao (North Goa), Chandor and Loutolim (South Goa) besides others. The decision was taken during a meeting held on Wednesday between the Minister for Town and Country Planning (TCP) Vijai Sardesai and planners like the architects.
Speaking to media persons post meeting, Sardesai said during a recent panel discussion organized by Indian Institute of Architect-Goa Chapter, strong point espoused by planner Edgar Rebeiro that “this Urban Arts Commission may not take us to where we want to reach and that it would be yet another regulatory mechanism, which will only make you come to another set of controls.”
“I also felt that government should be open for reviewing the decision that is taken. I also felt that if Urban Arts Commission is not going to take where we want to reach then we will have to review it. By withdrawing Urban Arts Commission, I am taking a step backward,” Minister said.
He said that at Wednesday’s meeting it was concluded that we will not have this Urban Arts Commission; rather we will have something called Design Advisory Panel, whose basic function would be aesthetic. “We are making DAP part of the regulation. The decision will make Goa look Goa for future,” he said.
Minister explained that under DAP architect will have to come to the panel to put up his case and explain as why his project should be approved. DAP, which will comprise only of experts, will be set up one in North and in South Goa.
Later, planner Edgar Rebeiro said that to put in place the Urban Art Commission, you will have to bring in the law and many laws are going to complicate the matter. “Goa has many great architects; they can give views on aesthetics. I think this kind of regulation, which we are talking about, requires for whole of Goa,” he said.
