Goa News : Strong opposition emerges against proposed Five-Star Hotel Near Mount Mary Chapel
Goa News : Strong opposition emerges against proposed Five-Star Hotel Near Mount Mary Chapel
A campaign spearheaded by the Save Old Goa Committee is underway to challenge the construction of a proposed five-star hotel near Mount Mary Chapel in Goa. The committee, advocating for a buffer zone and UNESCO protection, contends that this project poses a threat to the historical significance of Old Goa, altering its appearance and accumulating a layer of new history.
The Save Old Goa Action Committee has initiated a significant campaign against the approved five-star hotel project, submitting 17 thousand complaints from local citizens to the Investment Promotion Board (IPB). Despite this opposition, the project has received approval, triggering discontent among the locals. Questions are being raised about the approval process and the implementation of the project despite widespread objections.
The committee, seeking complete information about the project through Right to Information, has faced delays in obtaining responses. Locals have alleged that the historic Our Lady of the Mount Chapel, closed for apparent repairs, is actually prepped for the hotel project’s construction. Concerns arise about the closure’s duration and the nature of the work being conducted.
Officials claim that the first phase of church work was completed, with a significant expenditure of 1.17 crore. However, committee coordinator Peter Viegas disputes this, asserting that the repair involved only plastering and white paint, not actual restoration.
Call for Government Action:
Freddie Dias, secretary of the Save Old Goa Action Committee, demands the government annul the hotel project and formulate a comprehensive master plan for Old Goa. Dias questions the study supporting the project, highlighting concerns about the environmental impact, buffer zones, and heritage areas in the proposed construction site.
The escalating opposition signals a clash between development projects and preservation efforts, raising fundamental questions about the balance between progress and the conservation of historical and cultural heritage in Goa.
