GOVERNMENT DROPPED PROPOSAL TO INCLUDE OLD GOA AREAS INTO GPPDA BOWING TO PEOPLES SENTIMENTS: KAVALEKAR
PANAJI: Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant `Babu’ Kavalekar on Wednesday claimed that the government dropped the proposal to include Old Goa village panchayat areas into the Greater Panaji Planning and Development Authority (GPPDA) after considering the sentiments of the people and religious bodies.
Kavalekar said that Old Goa gram sabha had sent a proposal to include areas of its panchayat under the GPPDA. He however denied that the proposal was dropped due to political pressure.
“I discussed the issue with Chief Minister in order to maintain sanctity of the Old Goa Shrine we decided not to further extend the Kadamba planning area into GPPDA. The proposal therefore of including more area sunder GGPDA stands dropped,” Kavalekar said.
It may be recalled that on Tuesday Science and Technology Minister Michael Lobo and Rector of Bom Jesus Basilica, Old Goa, Fr Patricio Fernandes had met Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on the issue.
Also the Goa Forward Party president and MLA Vijai Sardesai, Save Old Goa Committee, historian Prajal Sakhardande and Old Goa panchayat members Nilkant Bhomkar and his wife Namrata Bhomkar had opposed the inclusion of the heritage site in GPPDA.
Vijai had also sent letters to the Director of UNESCO and the Union Culture Minister appealing to them to intervene and to save and preserve heritage of Old Goa.