MARGAO: In the midst of the Goa Investment Promotion Board’s (IPB) in-principle approval for setting up a luxury eco-resort in the heritage area of Ela, Old Goa, the Save Old Goa Action Committee (SOGAC) has rallied Goans to voice their objections regarding this proposal.
Tasked with seeking public input, the committee fervently urged concerned citizens to express their dissent to the IPB Director regarding the establishment of the said resort.
SOGAC members who recently visited the site, have not only given their own objections to the proposed project but have also taken to social media platforms to encourage like-minded individuals to follow suit. Glen Cabral, a resident of Old Goa, emphasised the need for IPB to consider the concerns raised.
He said that critical issues in the proposal were overlooked during the project’s assessment by Goa IPB.
“We demand that the Goa IPB consider these points which should have been addressed at the time of assessing the proposal but were disregarded. We hope that after viewing our arguments, the board will see that this project is not feasible in this particular location. We hope that the scrutiny of IPB is more thorough in the future and such projects not be permitted to even reach the public hearing stage to start,” Cabral stated in his letter to the IPB Director.
The objections raised by the committee encompass six primary reasons advocating against the initiation of the resort.
The first was regarding the heritage buffer violation. “The proposed project encroaches significantly within the 100m no-development zone surrounding the State Protected Heritage Site of Chapel of the Monte. The lack of this critical information in the public scrutiny details implies an intentional obscurity of facts to facilitate the project’s approval,” said Cabral.
The second was about the topographical challenges wherein it was conveyed that the land in question exhibits varying slopes, with a substantial portion unsuitable for development without extensive cut-and-fill procedures.
The issue regarding non-conforming zoning was also pointed out. “The surroundings consist of critical areas such as state-important monuments, natural cover zones, traditional houses and essential access roads, raising concerns regarding potential destabilisation of heritage monuments and risks to neighbouring properties and infrastructure,” said Cabral.
Furthermore, issues pertaining to inadequate access and congestion were stressed upon and it was mentioned that limited access through a narrow road combined with proposed increased footfall to the site could lead to congestion and pose risks during emergencies, such as fire hazards.
Biodiversity concerns were also raised wherein Cabral pointed out that the property hosts diverse flora and fauna, classified as a natural cover area in Regional Plan-2021 and that any development may disrupt the ecosystem, exacerbate human-animal conflicts, and lead to substantial loss to the environment.
SOGAC firmly asserted the need for a comprehensive reassessment of the proposed resort’s viability, emphasising the project’s potential adverse effects on heritage, environment and the local community.
The SOGAC’s aim is to advocate for a more stringent review process to prevent unsuitable projects from advancing to public hearing stages in the future, safeguarding Goa’s cultural and environmental heritage.
