TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The Goa bench of the Bombay High Court has asked the Goa government to clarify its stand on the objection raised by a group of environmentalist and heritage activists over construction/development/excavation work carried out within 100 meters of protected monuments at Old Goa.
The State has been directed to submit its affidavit by November 12, in response to the public interest litigation filed by Sudeep Dalvi, Bismark Dias and Rajkumar Walawalkar.
The matter, which was heard on October 17, pertains to allegations of illegal activity being carried out by the government and PWD at Old Goa over the last two weeks within the precincts of the Viceroy’s Arch, St Cajetan’s church and the wall of Adil Shah’s arsenal.
The petitioners had mentioned that they have no objection to bamboo shacks being erected since these could be dismantled, but the construction and renovation of concrete structures like toilets will prove a major damage to the heritage site.
When the matter came up for hearing on Tuesday, the petitioner pointed out that PWD’s assurance of repairing the damages within St Cajetan Church has not been completed. “The work that is being done is illegal, as no permission as required has been obtained as required under Section 20A of the Ancient Monuments and Archeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act.
The illegal work of excavation of pits near St Cajetan’s Church has not been filled and the work has been done in haphazard and unpleasant manner and with undue haste thereby endangering the protected monument,” an extract from the PIL reads.
The petition states “…construction of three toilets is in progress at Old Goa within 100 metres from the Viceroy’s Arch which the petitioners have learnt is being done by PWD without the requisite permission.”
They further mentioned a police complaint in this regard was filed before the
Old Goa police station on
October 10.
