No master plan to protect Old Goa buffer zones: CM

Panaji: Goa govt admitted it did not prepare any master plan or comprehensive conservation plan to protect buffer zones around the heritage monuments of Old Goa, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

This was revealed by chief minister and minister for archaeology Pramod Sawant in an unstarred legislative assembly question tabled by Curtorim MLA Carlos Ferreira on Wednesday.


“No master plan or comprehensive conservation plan for the protection of buffer zones is prepared by the department of archaeology for the state protected monuments and sites at Old Goa,” Sawant said.

Sawant said ASI norms govern centrally protected monuments, including regulations on construction and activities in prohibited and regulated areas. However, for monuments and sites protected by the state govt, no similar master plan exists, and the department of archaeology has not prepared any comprehensive conservation or buffer zone management plan.

On monitoring violations, Sawant said that for ASI-protected monuments, monitoring is carried out by the ASI, Goa Circle. For state-protected monuments and sites, the department divided areas into north zone and south zone, with security and utility staff deployed.

“The department conducts inspections from time to time regarding reported cases of violations at protected monuments and sites,” Sawant stated. However, the reply clarified that no satellite imagery, GIS mapping, or drone surveys were undertaken to monitor or detect “illegal constructions, change of use, excavation, or other violations within the core or buffer zones of Old Goa.”

Sawant said legal protection is governed by existing laws, including the Goa Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1978 and Rules, 1980, the Town and Country Planning Act, and applicable zoning and heritage regulations, enforced by the department of archaeology, town and country planning department, local bodies, and police. In June 2025, the state govt approved the Goa Heritage Policy.