NEW DELHI: The Goa Town and Country Planning (TCP) Board on September 22 issued a policy directive aiming to preserve traditional rural heritage structures, restricting construction on plots with pre1961 traditional houses, offcials said.
A TCP Board meeting was held in Panaji and chaired by Town and Country Planning Minister Vishwajit Rane. Under the directive, all pre-1961 traditional houses located on plots measuring 500 square metres or more, and situated outside Outline Development Plan (ODP) areas, will be subject to a maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 40 per cent.
Goa was liberated from 450-yearold Portuguese rule in 1961. The directive also prohibits structural demolition of such traditional houses, with the stated objective of safeguarding Goa’s architectural identity and preserving the historical character of rural settlements.
The move is intended to protect traditional houses and the surrounding streetscape while regulating development in areas outside ODP jurisdictions. The directive comes amid growing focus on preserving Goa’s traditional architecture and built heritage while allowing regulated development.
Two NGOs, The Save Old Goa Action Committee and Citizens for Democracy, are actively ¿ghting the “assault” on heritage structures. There have been reports that old Goa faces numerous threats from plans to construct hotels, farmhouses, and private villas in the city.
