Panaji: A visit by the Save Old Goa Action Committee to the Investment Promotion Board (IPB) office raised concerns about the approval of an allegedly illegal resort project, despite facing 17,000 objections from citizens. The issue originated from an October 22, 2023, notice inviting objections within 30 days, followed by a December 22, 2023, board meeting that failed to address the public outcry or reject the project.
The committee had submitted an RTI request on October 13, 2023, seeking information about the project, but their queries remain unanswered, leading them to file an appeal. Coordinator Peter Viegas expressed frustration, alleging that the closure of the Our Lady of the Mount Chapel for a year was not for maintenance but due to the nearby project. Activists claimed the resort used laterite stones to imitate the basilica’s architecture.
Officials from the archaeology department clarified that only the church’s roof had been repaired in the first phase, costing Rs 1.17 crore, using teakwood. They stated that plastering and whitewashing had been completed, with beautification scheduled for the upcoming financial year.
Secretary Fredy Dias urged the government to cancel the project and develop a comprehensive master plan for Old Goa. He questioned the expertise of board members, pointing out the project’s location in an area with 10,000 square meters of trees, a steep slope, and within the buffer of the heritage zone. Dias emphasized the potential threat to Old Goa’s historical and environmental integrity and criticized Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for not taking decisive action against the project.
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
