PANJIM: In an effort to safeguard the cultural and ecological richness of Old Goa, the Save Old Goa Action Committee (SOGAC) submitted a memorandum to North Goa MP and Union Minister of State (MoS) for Tourism Shripad Naik outlining urgent measures to combat unauthorized construction activities in the area.
The main aspect of their demands focused on the necessity of creating a detailed master plan, complete with a 300-meter demarcation, to protect the historic site from encroachment and environmental harm. Emphasizing their concern for the forest area in Old Goa, SOGCAC members sought assurance from Naik, who assured them that he would take up the matter with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
SOGAC members urged the MP to expedite discussions with Sawant and reach a resolution before the upcoming exposition of the relics of St Francis Xavier at Old Goa, scheduled for November through January next year.
Recalling their visit to the Investment Promotion Board (IPB) office earlier this month, SOGAC had raised questions about the approval of a resort project despite 17,000 objections from citizens. The project site is surrounded by 10,000 square meters of trees and located in the buffer zone of the heritage area.
, prompted their demand for the government to abandon the project and formulate a comprehensive master plan for Goa.
