Panaji, Nov 28, : A massive 16th-century arch dedicated to adventurer Vasco Da Gama was an ornamental overhang that served as an ornamental cover.It was under this roof that Goa’s newly-appointed Governors were officially welcomed into the capital of Portugal’s ‘Estado De India’. After a plague epidemic, the Viceroy’s arch in Old Goa lost its ceremonial value.In the middle of the 19th century, the Portuguese-held capital was moved to Panaji, about 10 km away.
The archway will be back in focus in 2021 thanks to a controversial bungalow located in its precincts.Political parties may see the archway as a gateway into power in the 2022 Assembly elections.
The Trinamool Congress demanded the immediate demolition of the structure.It was co-developed by Manish Munot, a Mumbai-based realtycoon and Suvarna, Suraj Lotlikar’s wife.
Sources claim that the property is in the process of being sold to another buyer.
An Archaeological Survey of India report states that the original structure was a 51 sq.mt structure.This small structure was used for coconut storage.
According to the document, no new construction is allowed.The District Collector falsely reported that the structure was 397 sq.mt.Manish Munot, who is associated to the BJP,” Trinamool MP, and the party’s Goa In-charge Mahua Moitra, demolished the hut and converted the area into an 800 sq mt Villa.
“We want the structure to be demolished.It is illegal and located in an ASI protected area.This is covered by the 1958 Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act.Moitra stated that the government should demolish it.
Lotlikar and Munot acquired the property in 2015.The first permissions from the state Town and Country Planning (TCP), were granted in 2016.
This was under the BJP Chief Minister Laxmikant Parasekar.
The local ‘Save Old Goa Action Committee” has already filed a petition to the Supreme Court requesting action against the alleged illegality.
Other political parties are also protesting against it.These other political parties have had links to it, and civil society members have been protesting near it almost every day for over a week.
The Goa Forward Party’s President Vijai Sardesai, a former TCP Minister, wrote on Saturday to Chandrakant Kavlekar, the interim TCP Minister, to revoke all permissions.Civil society activists have already criticized the party’s former treasurer Suraj Lotlikar, as she is a partner in this redevelopment project.
The Congress, the first political party to demand the demolition of the project’s construction, is also connected to it through Vishal Volvoikar, the Cumbharjua block president, who was a formal follower for the project’s documentation for government permissions.
Volvoikar, a member of the local panchayat, asked for the revocation all permissions for the project after the controversy broke out.Since then, all permissions granted to the project have been revoked by the local village panchayat.
Shaina NC, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, and Shaina NC were both unable to respond to questions.
Pramod Sawant maintained that he would investigate the allegations of illegality.
The controversial construction in the precincts UNESCO-endorsed World Heritage Site could prove to be a problem for the ruling BJP in the poll bound state.
This is because the area is holy to the local Catholic population.
The relics and medals of St Francis Xavier are kept in the nearby Old Goa church.
Nearly 26 percent of the state’s residents are Catholics.
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