Panaji lost 124 heritage buildings in 2005-2016 period: Survey

PANAJI: Panaji has lost 124 heritage buildings in the period between 2005 and 2016, states a survey by voluntary organisation Goa Heritage Action Group (GHAG).




The group has made public its findings after carrying out a field survey of heritage buildings in the state capital. While these heritage buildings have lent Panaji its unique character, their number has dropped from 996 in 2005 to 907, despite GHAG adding 35 more heritage buildings in 2016, which missed being included in the first list that was compiled.






When GHAG tried to corroborate the new list of heritage buildings with the one it had drawn up in 2005, it found that most of these buildings that are lost – as many as 89 – were either found to have been demolished, rebuilt or are non-existent.

Another 35 such buildings lost their heritage status due to ‘insensitive alterations’ carried out to them, the GHAG survey states.

The organisation states that while it is heartening to note that the Goa government under the Goa Land Development and Building Regulations, 2010, has adopted a classification for heritage buildings and has specified the scope of change that is permissible for each building, the official notification on ‘listed buildings’ is in abeyance. “Thus, in the last decade, only ‘conservation zones’ have fared well, while Panaji has lost many of its heritage buildings,” GHAG states in its compilation.

Six of the heritage buildings listed in 2005 could not be traced at all, the group has said.

Of the 13 neighbourhoods surveyed in Panaji, the areas of Sao Tome, Fontainhas, Mala, Portais and Altinho lost the most number (53) of heritage buildings. These are areas which are considered the epitome of the city’s old world charm.

“Ribandar has lost 21 of the total of 151 heritage homes as identified in 2005. Due to lack of adequate regulations, the threat to the rich, socio-cultural and architectural wealth of Ribandar continues and if this apathy of the people and policymakers continues, heritage of historical and architectural significance in this urban fabric shall be lost forever,” the GHAG has said, in its compilation.

The organisation has said that the heritage buildings of Panaji exude the cross-cultural migrations that has shaped the city over the centuries.

The areas of St Inez, Campal, Caranzalem, Miramar, Dona Paula and Taleigao, where urbanisation has swept across, have seen 30 of the last remaining heritage structures disappearing since 2005.