Citizens’ Group Appeals to Centre to Save UNESCO World Heritage Site of Old Goa

Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: A group of concerned citizens from Goa has written to Vivek Agarwal, Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, seeking urgent intervention to safeguard the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Old Goa, which they say is under severe threat due to unchecked development and heritage violations.
The appeal, submitted by former bureaucrat Elvis Gomes, historian Prof. Prajal Sakhardande, and heritage activist Yogesh Nagvenkar under the banner of “Citizens for Democracy Goa,” highlights growing concerns over what they term “acts of omission” by state authorities responsible for heritage protection.
The letter points out that despite Old Goa being granted World Heritage status by UNESCO in 1986 for its “Outstanding Universal Value,” recent decades have seen rampant encroachments, illegal constructions, and violations eroding its historic and cultural character. Particularly worrying, the citizens said, is the construction of a large bungalow by an influential politician within the protected precincts, despite repeated objections from heritage activists.
In addition to highlighting Portuguese-era monuments, the group also stressed the importance of protecting Old Goa’s lesser-known pre-Portuguese heritage. They cited historical accounts of the Kadamba dynasty’s developments, including the ancient Rajbid pathway, the Gomanteshwar temple area, and remains of fortifications, which are now vulnerable to real estate pressures.
Among the major concerns listed are over 70 illegal structures reportedly identified by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the proliferation of unregulated vending, poor waste management, and a controversial garbage treatment plant proposed on the Kadamba plateau. These, the group warned, threaten the site’s environmental balance and cultural sanctity.
The citizens’ group has called for a multi-pronged action plan, including stricter enforcement of the AMASR Act, urgent formulation of a comprehensive Heritage Master Plan and Heritage Bye-Laws for Old Goa, relocation of the garbage treatment project, and protection of pre-Portuguese archaeological sites. They also urged better collaboration between the ASI, state authorities, UNESCO representatives, and local communities.
Emphasizing that unchecked development could cause irreversible damage to Old Goa’s global heritage value, the petitioners requested the Ministry of Culture to take immediate steps to preserve the site for future generations.
The group has also expressed willingness to meet and further assist in heritage conservation efforts, stating, “The time for decisive action is now.”