Akanksha Singh-
Published on: September 13, 2021 at 14:01 IST
The Goa State Government has told the Court that the petition filed by the Goa Heritage action Group (GHAG) over the renovation done to the 17th century Aguada Fortress will be treated as a representation to the Chief Town Planner.
State Advocate General Devidas Pangam stated in the Court that “The government will act on it within three months”
Advocates Heta Pandit and Cezar Pinto represented GHAG.
The GHAG has stated that the Chief Town Planner’s failure to prepare the heritage bye-laws for the Aguada Fort resulted in “serious errors in the mending effort”, where foreign material has been under the guise of “repairs” and contrary to the heritage structure.
“Unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride (UPVC) roofing material has been used throughout the fortresssress , traditional roofing material of Mangalore tiles has been replaced and cement washes on the walls have been carried out .” stated GHAG.
Further, the petitioners also demands that the Town & Country Planning Department(TCP) should prepare heritage by e-laws and site plans in respect of each protected monument and protected area and make them available on its official website at the earliest.
The petitioners also wants TCP to make a website to host information related to construction, reconstruction, repair, refurbishment, awareness, capacity building and to publish details of its activities.
However Pinto also stated in the Court that “The restoration and beautification of the same with Azulejo tiles as recommended and stated in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report has not been carried out. Instead, the entire stream, and its environs have been destroyed and obliterated,”
Goa Heritage action Group (GHAG) has also demanded that the damage caused by Goa Tourism Development Corporation Limited (GTDC) be reversed and the heritage features and aspects of the fort be restored.
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