Latest news with #pre-Portuguese
Time of India
16-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Divar bundh set to finally be fixed, will stave off flooding
Panaji: The water resources department (WRD) is finally set to repair a damaged bundh at Navelim, Divar. The bundh was in a dilapidated condition, with mangroves growing around the existing structure. The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) recently issued an NOC for the strengthening of the bundh, provided its width was not increased and the mangroves in the land were not disturbed. Most of the bundh falls in the no-development zone of the Mandovi river, and the land falls within the mangrove buffer zone and khazan area as per Goa's Coastal Zone Management Plan, 2011. The age-old bundh system, dating back to the pre-Portuguese era, is meant to help make farming possible near saline estuarine areas. The maintenance of mud bundhs is a major challenge for the WRD, which is on the lookout for a viable solution. Concrete bundhs were opposed by the Goa State Biodiversity Board, stating that they can prove detrimental to the ecosystem and may adversely affect many species. Former chief minister Manohar Parrikar once proposed the use of vinyl sheet piling as a new-age solution to the concrete bundhs that were being constructed at the time by the WRD. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Many Are Watching Tariffs - Few Are Watching What Nvidia Just Launched Seeking Alpha Read More Undo Most of Divar's khazan lands were once very productive granaries of food. However, breached bundhs, particularly in areas like Malar and Goltim-Navelim, have been a recurring issue, causing flooding of paddy fields and threatening crops due to saline water ingress from the Mandovi river. This problem often worsens during heavy rain and the weakening of ancient khazan systems, leading to significant losses for farmers and concerns for residential areas as well.
Time of India
22-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Govt to train students in art of manuscript preservation
Panaji: Merging academic learning with heritage conservation, the state directorate of archives will soon launch an initiative to train history students in manuscriptology and palaeography to preserve the state's centuries-old documentary heritage. 'Spanning pre-Portuguese, Portuguese, and post-Liberation eras, the archives house a wealth of documents in diverse scripts and languages — from ancient Devanagari and Modi to Portuguese and Roman scripts — making it fertile ground for this initiative. The initiative will not only help conserve Goa's manuscript wealth, but also offer practical skill-building opportunities to students,' an archives official told TOI . As part of the National Education Policy (NEP), internships are now mandatory in college curricula, and the state archives department is turning this academic requirement into a unique opportunity for history students in Goa. The plan is to start the orientation and training of students by mid-Aug in this academic year. 'The department will equip students with these skills before involving them in real-time documentation and conservation efforts,' the official said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like See How Much You Can Save on Car Insurance Search7 Learn More Undo 'The initiative is linked to the Gyan Bharatam Mission, part of the Union culture ministry's National Mission for Manuscripts, which aims to preserve and digitise India's rich manuscript heritage. To facilitate this, state govt has already approved the establishment of the Goa State Mission for Manuscripts,' the official said. Under this mission, the archives department will launch an extensive statewide survey to identify manuscripts — some of which may be with private collectors and religious institutions across Goa. Once documented, these manuscripts will be conserved and digitised to make them accessible to future generations. TOI reported on June 18 that under this initiative, the department expects to find literary treasures such as correspondence that was once exchanged between neighbouring kings, freedom fighters, and texts that capture the essence of Goan life through the centuries.
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Time of India
Chorao, Chandor, Bandora among five villages to be developed as tourism villages at Rs 2.5cr
Panaji: Under the Centre's Tourism Village Development Scheme 2021, the tourism department has identified five villages in the state to develop as tourism villages. Under this scheme, the tourism department, in consultation with the respective panchayats, will build tourism amenities to harness the tourism potential of the villages at an approximate cost of Rs 2.5 crore. The tourism department intends to build a multi-purpose hall in each of the five villages where local fairs, festivals, live performances, and other events will be held. The five villages are Cotigao, Bandora, Chandor, Chorao, and Sal. In 2023, Cotigao was awarded the best tourism village of India, while in 2024, Bandora received the same award in the wellness category. Initially, in 2023, the villages of Goltim-Navelim on Divar Island, Chorao, Cotigao, Bandora, and Vere-Vaghurme were being considered to be developed as tourist villages. 'The idea of tourist villages fits in with the move to expand tourism away from the coastline, which is already crowded. We want to promote heritage, rural areas, and the hinterland through these villages,' said a GTDC official. To take the initiative forward, the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) has moved to appoint a consultant who will prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for the five villages. The appointed consultant will be responsible for the project from the conceptual stage to completion, including securing statutory approvals and govt grants. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pinga-Pinga e HBP? Tome isso 1x ao dia se tem mais de 40 anos Portal Saúde do Homem Clique aqui Undo Each village will receive Rs 50 lakh under the scheme, with additional funding considered on a case-by-case basis. Tourism department officials said that whatever infrastructure comes up in the villages will comply with all local building bylaws and zoning regulations. The department plans to construct stalls to promote local handicrafts, tourist information counters, gazebos, and seating arrangements. A GTDC official said the panchayats will be consulted before the conceptual plans are finalised. 'The goal is to showcase rural Goa, traditional art forms, pre-Portuguese heritage, and culture,' the official said. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
India Today
08-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
As heritage violations ruin Old Goa, why the ball is in Centre's court
It is a historic landmark and a must-visit on the itinerary of tourists or pilgrims to Goa. However, Old Goa, the former capital of Portuguese India and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is increasingly under threat due to rampant construction and enthusiasts have now sought the intervention of the Union ministry of culture, expressing apprehension over the 'the loss of history and heritage of Old Goa'. The forum 'Citizens for Democracy Goa', which includes former bureaucrat and Congress leader Elvis Gomes; Prajal Sakhardande, a professor of history; and entrepreneur Yogesh Nagvenkar, has written to Vivek Aggarwal, secretary, Union ministry of culture, drawing attention to 'the bizarre situation arising out of the acts of omission by the very state authorities entrusted with responsibilities to preserve the priceless heritage in Goa'.advertisementIn 1986, UNESCO granted world Heritage Site status to the churches and convents of Old Goa. This includes the Basilica of Bom Jesus, which contains the tomb of the Jesuist missionary St Francis Xavier. Old Goa is located 10 km east of state capital Panaji. It was developed from the previous village of Ella after being taken over by the Portuguese, who designated the city as the capital for their occupied territories in Asia in Old Goa was also known as Goa Dourada (Golden Goa), Rome of the East, and Pearl of the East, since the 16th century, and this has been documented in the accounts of numerous foreign travelers, including Ludovico di Varthema, Domingo Paes and Jan Huygen van Linschoten. The city has been described as a port city on the banks of the Mandovi river, which was a hub of horse trade. This brought in substantial revenue for the Adilshahi Sultans of Bijapur in Karnataka, who ruled Goa from 1498. This drew the Portuguese general Afonso De Albuquerque to Goa in 1510. The precinct also has a rich pre-Portuguese history and heritage. In the 11th century, the Kadamba King Jayakeshi-I connected his capital Govapuri-Gopakapattan on the banks of the Zuari to the port of Old Goa through a 9-km-long road known as the 'Rajbid' or the surviving churches and convents of Old Goa are the Chapel of St Catherine (1510), which was raised to the status of cathedral by Pope Paul III in 1534; the Church and Convent of St Francis of Assisi (1517), rebuilt in 1521 and 1661; the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary (1549), S Cathedral (1652), the Church of St Augustine (1602), a complex that fell into ruins, with only one-third of the bell tower standing; the Basilica of Bom Jesus (1605), with its prominent Classical orders; and the Chapel of St Cajetan (1661), modelled on the original design of St Peter's Basilica in monuments exerted great influence in the 16th to 18th centuries by spreading forms of Manueline, Mannerist and Baroque art and architecture throughout the countries of Asia where Catholic missions were established. In doing so, they eminently illustrated the work of missionaries in Asia, says the UNESCO their letter to Aggarwal, the group 'Citizens for Democracy Goa' red-flagged 'unstopped constructions near the heritage monuments in violation of heritage laws'. The letter cited a huge bungalow by a Mumbai-based politician within the very precinct of the World Heritage Site, in close proximity to the office of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), as the 'most egregious and visible example of this disregard'advertisement'Despite numerous protests by heritage activists, this illegal construction continues to stand as a defiant challenge to all agencies mandated to preserve and protect this significant World Heritage Site. This constitutes a major heritage violation occurring under the direct purview of the ASI. Repeated appeals have regrettably failed to halt this egregious violation. This bungalow, situated next to the World Heritage Church of St. Cajetan, within the vicinity of the Adilshahi Palace gate and the Kadamba-era temple gate, and abutting the Viceroy's Arch, should have been demolished, but for the ASI's laxity and the local government's apathy,' the letter pointed group stated that by the ASI's own admission, there were over 70 structures that are reportedly illegal but still standing. 'Proliferation of diverse constructions is putting pressure of higher density of human settlement in Old Goa, resulting in issues such as rampant filling of low-lying areas, hill cutting, wanton littering, unregulated solid waste generation and its ineffective management,' the letter said. The proposed garbage treatment plant on the Kadamba plateau of Old Goa to treat the waste generated by Panaji has also faced strong opposition from the local letter has recommended a multi-pronged approach to protect the site. This includes coordination between Goa's Department of Archaeology and the ASI to formulate a protection policy. 'The Centre should impress upon the state government to prioritise the swift formulation and implementation of a comprehensive Heritage Masterplan specifically for Old Goa. This plan should clearly demarcate all protected zones, including an adequately sized buffer zone that respects the site's heritage and visual integrity. The masterplan must include specific and detailed guidelines for the preservation and sensitive restoration of all pre-Portuguese historical sites, integrating principles of sustainable tourism to ensure that tourism activities support, rather than detract, from the site's conservation,' it urged.A thorough survey of all existing structures located within the World Heritage Site and its designated buffer zone must be conducted to definitively identify all illegal constructions and encroachments, the letter said.'The time for decisive action is now, before the irreversible impacts of unchecked development further erode the 'Outstanding Universal Value' that makes Old Goa a treasure for all humanity,' the group to India Today Magazine advertisement
