Govt constitutes drafting panel for Heritage Policy, focus on historical private homes

Panaji:The drafting panel will be chaired by folklorist Pandurang Phaldesai and comprises members including scientist Nandkumar Kamat, environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar, history enthusiast Sanjeev Sardessai, and archaeology director Nilesh Faldessai. Archivist Balaji Shenoy will serve as the member secretary.The panel’s mandate is twofold — to compile inputs received from the members of the monitoring committee and to prepare the draft Heritage Policy for submission to the committee for further deliberation.The notification says that non-official members of the panel will be eligible to receive travel and daily allowances, as well as a sitting allowance, in accordance with govt rules.During the Goa budget presented last month, chief minister Pramod Sawant said that efforts will be made to implement the Goa State Heritage Policy this year.A feature of the policy will be the emphasis on legislative reforms, conservation guidelines, and a focus on private heritage homes, with provisions for financial assistance, technical support, and recognition programmes to aid in their maintenance.Adaptive reuse of these properties will be promoted for sustainable cultural tourism and educational initiatives.The policy will propose green tourism measures, including eco-friendly heritage trails and cultural festivals, designed to balance conservation with tourism development.