Latest news with #SubhashPhalDessai
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Govt plans to restore heritage houses, 122 sites on list so far
Panaji: State govt intends to restore private, dilapidated houses built during the Portuguese era in a revenue share model under the Goa Heritage Policy. Archives and archaeology minister Subhash Phal Dessai on Friday said that owners will be offered interest-free loans and encouraged to promote tourism at these sites while retaining ownership of their properties. So far, govt has identified 122 heritage houses across the state, including non-Portuguese properties. 'Many houses are on the verge of collapse but as govt, we have no right to touch such houses. We have found this way of helping protect, conserve, and restore these houses and incentivising them,' he said. 'One of the objectives of the Goa heritage policy is to integrate heritage into planning, tourism, education, and climate resilience. Govt will not stake its ownership on any of the structures. We will only invite their participation in a revenue sharing model. ' T he minister said that efforts will be made to preserve all the Portuguese-era artefacts, and history trails will be designed for students to explore. A survey will be conducted to identify all the undocumented antiquities in Goa, and a detailed paper will be written on these antiquities. 'Protection of memorials of the freedom struggle will also be taken under the scheme. The Goa State Memorial Maintenance Authority will be established under this. There will also be scope to preserve food items such as feni and chilli powder, among others under this scheme,' he said. The policy includes a tentative list of 222 heritage sites, including 122 heritage houses, 46 folk forms, and 61 traditional occupations, besides the 57 protected sites Jalready under the archaeology department. 'The Goa heritage policy will be rolled out in a phased manner. The policy will stand for five years, and over time it will be analysed and reviewed to be modified in the future,' the minister said.
Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
New policy to safeguard intangible assets unveiled
Panaji: Biodiversity sites like sacred groves and khazan lands will be safeguarded as govt has unveiled a comprehensive 182-page Goa Heritage Policy on Friday aimed at preserving both tangible and intangible heritage assets. The heritage policy's categories under intangible assets are natural, cultural and eco-cultural. 'This policy was put together because we have a lot of concern for all of Goa's heritage sites,' said archives and archaeology minister Subhash Phal Dessai. 'Sacred groves, khazan lands, wetlands, rivers, tidal agro-ecosystems and biodiversity zones will be protected under the policy. It will also include the gaanvkari communidade system and village governance. This will be done without encroaching into other departments such as agriculture and forests,' he said. He said that documentation of shigmo, romtamel, intruz, cantaram, mussol khell, tiatr and various other folk forms will be done. 'There is a need to preserve our intangible heritage, which is slowly disappearing. We will make video documentation of the folk forms and preserve it in our library to be accessible to future generations. We will also promote research work on heritage,' he said. 'There will be detailed guidelines, acts and schemes that will be implemented under this policy.'
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Minister: Govt panel to solve pvt heritage property issues
Margao: Archives and archaeology minister Subhash Phal Dessai said on Wednesday that govt will establish a committee to address concerns of private homeowners desirous of availing benefits from state's heritage conservation policy. Phal Dessai stated that while govt remains committed to preserving heritage structures—including privately-owned historic homes—the new committee will work to resolve issues with property owners and create mutually beneficial solutions under the state's heritage framework. 'Conservation of heritage houses in private properties will be undertaken by govt only upon the owners' consent. The committee will hold consultations with the owners and thrash out issues if any,' Phal Dessai told reporters on the sidelines of a function held to commemorate Goa Revolution Day at Lohia Maidan, Margao. Phal Dessai made this statement when it was brought to his notice the need for conservation of Francisco Luis Gomes' house, and the demand for converting the house of Juliao Menezes at Assolna into a museum. While Gomes raised his voice for Goa's Liberation in the Portuguese parliament much before Goa's Liberation movement started, Menezes hosted Lohia in his Assolna house. Govt recently approved the Goa state heritage policy, which is a comprehensive guide aimed at conserving, protecting, and promoting Goa's unique cultural, historical, and natural heritage. Phal Dessai said that while heritage structures in existence for 100 years are covered under the department of archaeology's conservation mandate, those less than 100 years enjoy protection under the state's heritage policy. Earlier, addressing the gathering for the Goa Revolution Day celebration, Phal Dessai revealed plans of govt to produce an animation web series on the Goa Liberation movement and its protagonists.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Betul fort to be restored, says Phal Dessai
Margao: Minister for archives and archaeology, Subhash Phal Dessai, announced on Friday that govt will rebuild the historic Betul fort, vowing to 'fulfil the task of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj , which remained incomplete following his demise'. The announcement came during a function held at Betul to commemorate the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji. Phal Dessai said an architect and a consultant were already appointed for the fort restoration project. Addressing jurisdictional issues, he said, 'We cannot legally acquire the land, but we have worked out alternative means to bring the land under our charge and rebuild the fort.' Currently, the fort falls under the jurisdiction of the customs department, which operates under central govt purview. The access road to it lies within private property, further complicating restoration efforts. Heritage lovers and local residents have persistently voiced concerns over the monument's deterioration, demanding immediate restoration action. While the fort structure itself remarkably withstood natural elements over the centuries, locals point out that the pathways and stairs leading to the fort collapsed due to prolonged neglect. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Door-to-door survey of PwDs in two months
Panaji: A comprehensive survey of persons with disabilities (PwDs) across Goa is likely to begin in two months, minister for empowerment of persons with disabilities Subhash Phal Dessai said on Monday. Govt is floating a tender, and an agency will be brought on board to carry out the door-to-door survey. A 2011 survey identified at least 33,000 persons with disabilities in Goa . At the time, only seven types of disabilities were recognised under the disabilities Act. The new Act recognises 21 types of disabilities. Commissioner for PwDs, Guruprasad Pawaskar, said this number is expected to rise four or even fivefold. The department for empowerment of PwDs has data on 11,500 persons in Goa possessing unique disability ID cards. This number is also set to change. The comprehensive survey will help build an accurate database, including 21 categories of disabilities and around 100 assessment parameters, including the educational qualifications of the PwD, family background, whether the disability was found at birth, and whether employed or not. The PwDs will be geotagged, and the department will be able to access the data instantly and reach out in case of job opportunities or schemes, he said, requesting cooperation from families in the face of stigma. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Expense Of Toothbringing For The Elderly Could Blow You Off Dental Implant | Search ADS Search Now Undo Director of the department of empowerment of PwDs, Varsha Naik, said the target is to get the exercise completed in three months, but added that the monsoon may cause delays. Phal Dessai also announced a series of camps across talukas to provide assistive devices and equipment for PwDs. The camps will begin on May 20 and run till June 2 and will be held from 10am to 5pm. 'The PwDs must have at least 40% disability and qualify under other eligibility criteria,' he said.
