PANJIM: The Archaeological Survey of India’s (ASI) confirmation of issuing the order to demolish the blatant illegal structure in the precincts of the Old Goa heritage and protected area leaves absolutely no case on merit which should allow the structure from being demolished. The pending cases in the Court will remain to be resolved before the bulldozers can come in.
However, to put the issue in context it may be noted that the demolition order was issued in August but was stayed on October 12 by the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court till November 15 when the owners questioned the ASI order. Union Minister G Kishan Reddy’s letter to MP Mahua Moitra is a note in confirmation of the ASI’s demolition order of October 16, which was already in the public domain.
Similarly, a demolition order of the panchayat has also been challenged by the owners.
Irrespective of the time it takes for the court proceedings to be concluded, this has been one of the finest examples of people’s power that has led to the powerful and those sheltered by the system to try and manipulate and play with Goa’s heritage.
People’s power is everything
All over the world, one has seen the power of the people and the success of establishments that fight for the people. It is not a small issue that Russia with its massive might, has relentlessly bombed and killed in Ukraine, and yet the tiny nation is not giving up, their soldiers are giving their lives for the nation but at the same time, they have fought and destroyed the Russian army, reducing its size and not allowing them to finish Ukraine.
The farmer’s protests in Punjab and people’s agitations against bills and legislation have kept the flame of people’s actions burning. The Old Goa protests come under the same category.
This has been a great people’s battle. The institutions, the clergy, and the people, from day one, took to the streets, civic actions groups, ordinary Goans and even school children from across the length and breadth of Goa.
From the joint protest by the Church and locals way back on July 19, 2021, more than 15 months ago, till now, people's pressure has been constant.
Will and sacrifice were the ammunition of this protest
A hundred-day-plus chain hunger strike, probably one the longest in India’s recent protest history, made the establishment realise that an illegal villa clearly built on documents, was accepted as legal but hardly so.
In the midst, of it all, Nazareth Menezes attained martyrdom. He dies in an accident while returning home from a chain hunger strike. On the completion of the 100th day, a one-minute silence was observed in his memory.
This issue struck a chord all over Goa
For over 6 months, citizens groups from Velim to Calangute and all-around regularly turned up at the Old Goa protest square for day-long protestors, travelling far. The protesters included the very young to the very old.
The fight will carry on. Save Old Goa Action Committee coordinator Peter Viegas said that they will not keep quiet till the illegal structure is brought to ground zero. Those involved in illegalities within the heritage area are politically connected and belong to the ruling party.
Viegas demanded that the area at Old Goa should be demarcated since it is not shown in the Regional Plan thereby keeping it open for destruction.
Save Old Goa Action Committee treasurer Hugo Gonsalves demanded that the illegal bungalow built within the protected area has to be demolished.
Anna Gracias of Chimbel said, “We are happy with the order but as of now the matter is sub judicial and we hope that the bungalow is demolished. ASI already said that the illegal structure should be down, but now the matter is in the High court and we hope that all the pending cases are dismissed.
Anthony D’Silva, a Velim resident however pointed out, “The ASI had given this order in the month of August, but then the matter was taken up in the High Court. But the matter still continues in the High Court as the case is pending.”
“The case is going on in Court. The order should be passed by Court. The illegal structure should be demolished, and people have continuously fought against it. These tweets are a publicity stunt meant to fool people,” said social activist Tara Kerkar.