Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The future of the proposed Heritage Interpretation Centre at Old Goa remains uncertain after excavation work at the site uncovered archaeological material, prompting authorities to suspend the project.
Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the discoveries require detailed examination and that construction should not move ahead until their historical importance is properly established.
He indicated that shifting the proposed facility could be considered, but any such decision would rest with the Goa government after studying the archaeological findings and assessing their implications.
The project has been a subject of concern among sections of the local community and political representatives, who have questioned its compatibility with Old Goa’s historic landscape and skyline.
On the broader tourism front, Shekhawat outlined the Centre’s proposal to create 50 major tourist destinations across India with international-standard facilities. He said Goa could be considered for these developments depending on the proposals put forward by the State government.
The Union Minister also pointed to further tourism projects approved for Goa through the Centre’s PRASHAD and Swadesh Darshan programmes.
