The Save Old Goa Action Committee (SOGAC) is urgently appealing to the Goa government for the formulation of a comprehensive MASTER PLAN dedicated to preserving the UNESCO World Heritage site at Old Goa. This initiative is crucial to safeguard this historical treasure for future generations amidst the looming threats posed by various ongoing projects, including illegal bungalows, laterite resorts, and other commercial developments.
Key Concerns Addressed by SOGAC:
1. Proximity to State Protected Heritage Site:
The proposed project by M/s The Laterite Resorts encroaches upon the 100m no-development zone of the State Protected Heritage Site of Chapel of the Monte (Survey No. 86). This critical information has been inadequately presented, raising concerns about transparency and public scrutiny.
2. Topography Challenges:
The site's topography presents challenges, with approximately 1/3rd featuring a steep slope exceeding 25 degrees. Development would require extensive hill-cutting and retaining wall activities, potentially leading to adverse environmental impacts.
3. Non-Conforming Zoning and Heritage Concerns:
Surrounded by a monument of state importance, natural cover, traditional houses, and the only access road to the heritage site, the proposed development poses a risk of destabilizing the slope and endangering Goa's cultural heritage.
4. Natural Disaster Risk:
Concerns regarding ground cover disruption, landslides, and settlements pose potential risks to private properties, the access road, and even the nearby railway tunnel.
5. Inadequate Access:
The sole access to the site is an eight-meter right of way Panchayat Road, with a narrow tarred width. Given the footfall to the protected monument and proposed tourism use, congestion on the access road is anticipated, posing a threat to human life and heritage structures.
6. Biodiversity Concerns:
The property boasts dense vegetation and diverse flora and fauna. Any development would bisect the forest, leading to increased human-animal conflict and substantial losses to the public.
7. Violating UNESCO Norms:
The proposed project, located within a one-kilometre radius of UNESCO-listed "Churches and Convents of Goa," violates UNESCO's recommendation for low-density sustainable development. The project's deviation from this guideline raises concerns about its true nature and intentions.
SOGAC's Appeal:
In light of these pressing concerns, SOGAC urgently appeals to the Goa Investment Promotion Board to reconsider the project. Emphasizing that these issues should have been thoroughly addressed during the proposal assessment, SOGAC hopes that its arguments prompt a reevaluation of the project's feasibility in its current location.
SOGAC underscores the need for a more comprehensive scrutiny process by the Investment Promotion Board, preventing projects with evident challenges from advancing to the public hearing stage. Additionally, the committee calls for the preparation of a Heritage Master Plan and the demarcation of buffer zones on RP2021 to safeguard Old Goa's UNESCO World Heritage Site. The urgency of these measures is heightened by the approaching Feast of St. Francis Xavier and Exposition in 2024.