Panaji: The Goa government will soon draw a master plan to preserve the church complex in its ancient capital city.
UNESCO has already declared the churches in Old Goa as heritage monuments and the Archaeological Survey of India has declared them as protected.
Old Goa once served as the capital of the erstwhile Portuguese ruled colony. It is located 9 km from Panaji, the present capital Goa.
The Goa government on July 1 issued a notification assigning renowned architect Ketak Nachinolkar to undertake a detailed study on the heritage site.
The notification from the Urban Development department said the government will draw the masterplan on the basis of Nachinolkar’s study.
“Nachinolkar has to submit his report within a month,” Director of Urban Development Elvis Gomes said.
World famous monuments in the Old Goa Church complex include Basilica of Bom Jesus that houses relics of St Francis Xavier and Se Cathedral, one of Asia’s biggest churches.
“The government is concerned about the need for conservation and development of the Old Goa Heritage area which is recognized by the UNESCO as a World Heritage site and also the need to prepare a comprehensive Master Plan for the said purpose,” Gomes said.
Nachinolkar is mandated with the job to work on delineation of the historic sites, historical aspects of the place before the arrival of the Portuguese, Colonial era developments leading to Old Goa becoming a major metropolis.
The plan will also study the possibility of constituting Special Development Authority for the Old Goa Heritage complex while identifying parameters for accrual of social and economic benefits to the local population.
The Goa State Urban Development Agency has been appointed as the nodal agency to oversee the process of drafting the Master Plan.
Besides basilica and Se Cathedral, the Old Goa complex has St Cajetan Church, convent of St Francis of Assisi, chapel of St Catherine, church of Our Lady of Rosary, remains of St Paul’s college, arch of Viceroy, arch of Adil Shah’s palace, St Augustine’s tower, chapel of St Francis Xavier and connected buildings among others.