PANJIM: The Save Old Goa Action Committee (SOGC), Goa Heritage Action Group and the Old Goa residents on Saturday welcomed the Goa Investment Promotion and Facilitation Board (IPB) resolving to scrap permission to the controversial laterite luxury eco resort at Ella, Old Goa.
Speaking to mediapersons, heritage expert and historian Prajal Sakhardande referred to this victory as a “small silver lining” but warned Goans to be alert, as the same project may sneak in through a back door in a different form. He cautioned that the new section 39A of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act in particular poses several risks to Goa’s heritage and vowed to keep fighting. He emphasized that the only long-term solution to the issues is for a master plan for Old Goa
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
On October 12, 2023, the Goa government through the IPB had notified a zone change of 32,000 square meters from no development slope and natural cover to commercial zone for a five-star resort. This site was immediately abutting the State Heritage monument of Monte Chapel, Old Goa, he said.
The Goa Heritage Action Group prepared a detailed objection and also met the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the State Archaeology director, requesting them to file their views. Local Glen Cabral obtained an objection from the Old Goa village panchayat and the SOGC undertook a massive signature campaign obtaining 14,000 signatures against the project.
SOGC president Fatima Pereira expressed gratitude to the IPB for considering the objections, and in particular the 14,000 citizens of Goa, who showed up and protested against this project.
Architect Tahir Noronha stressed on the impact additional projects like this would have on the community, through flooding, landslides and congestion – some of which are already starting to be felt on the heritage village because of construction on Kadamba Plateau.
Activist Swapnesh Sherlekar pointed out that the plot across the road from the now-scrapped IPB project is also been converted from natural and orchard to settlement under 17(2) of the TCP Act. He suggested that the same be immediately revoked as the IPB revocation has made a strong enough case that such unplanned, case-by-case developments pose too much of a risk to the heritage of the area.
Glen Cabral informed that four farmhouses, each being over 600 square metres are also permitted by the TCP Department in orchard land in the vicinity of these projects and that he had challenged them due to no road access to the property. He appealed to the TCP department to check the ground realities before blindly issuing permission.
