Old Goa to get better facilities, not mall: Govt

Panaji: After Sunday’s protests against tourism department’s proposed project at Old Goa that falls within the Unesco’s world heritage site, govt clarified that there have been no violations, nor a mall is being built there.
The ongoing development project has been taken up under Centre’s Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) scheme. “A mall is not being constructed under this project. It solely focuses on enhancing facilities for visitors such as parking, an information centre and improving the monument’s lighting,” tourism director Kedar Naik told reporters.
Naik said they had obtained permission from the forest department, TCP department, as well as from the National Monument Authority (NMA).
Presently, the application for a no objection certificate (NOC) from the panchayat has been moved, he said.
While they had engaged with all stakeholders, the work was temporarily halted after the directive of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Naik said.
Kishore Raghubans, Assistant Superintending Archaeologist, said since during excavation cannon balls were discovered, the tourism department was asked to pause the work to allow documentation of the new finds. This will take some time.
The opposition members raked up the issue in the House during the first day of the budget session.
Earlier in the day, TCP minister, Vishwajit Rane, and tourism minister Rohan Khaunte, denied any lapses by their respective departments.