http://oheraldo.in/node/10692
Will the CCP protect age-old structures? JULIAN D'COSTA PANJIM, MARCH 6 — Goan, Indian art deco, Portuguese, British and Italianate styled structures may just be a page in a book on history, if the Corporation of the City of Panaji continues to remain powerless in the protection and conservation of this rich heritage found exclusively in the capital of Goa — Panjim. The city has more than a 1000 structures of historical\architectural and above all heritage importance. Sadly, it is at the mercy of planning authorities who it is feared, in a piece-meal fashion, could send the same to oblivion. It is alarming to note that the City Corporation of Panaji has little or no role to play in the preservation, conservation of heritage structures and property within the jurisdiction of the CCP. Interestingly, powers for planning vested under section 255 of the CCP Act has not been devolved to the corporation, says administrator Sanjit Rodrigues claiming that the role of the CCP is merely restricted to issuing licenses to any proposal cleared by the Town and Country Planning Department even if it includes a heritage structure for either major renovations and even demolitions. "This is the reason why we have started organising festivals and programs like Fontainhas Festival of the Arts, down town revitalization of Panjim to sensitize people on the need to protect Panjim's rich heritage," says Rodrigues. According to Rodrigues, "Every municipal corporation should have planning powers and what it requires to protect heritage." It is noted that almost all municipal corporations in the country have the planning powers but have not yet prepared listings on heritage properties. "In Panjim it is the other way round," says the CCP administrator. "We have the listings on heritage properties but not the powers to protect it." The over 500 page book enlisting Panjim's heritage properties, a joint collaboration of the CCP and the Goa Heritage Action Group (GHAG), says GHAG Honorary Secretary Heta Pandit, is an effort to get regulations in place. "Panjim has an edge over other tourist destinations for its unique heritage," she explained further emphasizing that it needs to be protected, conserved and maintained with the assistance of experts. "We are not saying we should be on the committee," she clarified but reiterated the need for a combined effort of qualified and competent persons who can help keep Panjim's heritage alive for posterity. The GHAG, she said, has raised objections to the scrapping of the 'institutional' heritage category in the Development Plan for Panjim. In other words institutional heritage buildings including Police Headquarters, Custom House, old GMC, Provedoria building etc can be altered, renovated or even demolished without a say of the CCP. -- TUMCHER AXIRVAD ASSUM; DEV BOREM KORUM. Gabe Menezes. London, England