Team Herald
PANJIM: The Save Old Goa Action Committee (SOGAC) on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to the Old Goa Police, demanding urgent security arrangements at the Basilica of Bom Jesus and other nearby heritage sites.
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In the memorandum submitted to Old Goa PI Satish Padwadkar, SOGAC president Fatima Pereira, stated, “Over 5,000 people visit these heritage sites daily for sightseeing and to venerate our Goemcho Saib. However, there is not a single police officer present to monitor or control the crowd. There is no security equipment such as metal detectors or baggage scanners, at these crowded sites.”
“There is no parking facility for the many vehicles used by tourists, and as a result, vehicles are parked along the main road. Footpaths are obstructed by hawkers and vendors, and the main road is blocked by carts and even more vehicles,” said Pereira.
Later, speaking to reporters, Jennifer Lobo, a member of the SOGAC said, “Today, we submitted a memorandum for security and safety purposes. We have also raised the issues of parking areas and hawkers doing business on footpaths along the roads.”
Freddy Dias, another member of the Committee, emphasised, “This is a holy place. There are only eight days left for the Exposition. There is no check on who is coming and who is going. Who will take responsibility if an untoward incident occurs? The security arrangements are very poor. I urge CM to establish tight security for the exposition.”
