PANAJI
The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Wednesday directed the Managing Director of the Goa Tourism Development Corporation and the Directorate of Archives and Archaeology to file affidavits in connection with alleged damage to the surroundings of the Chandreshwar Bhoothnath temple, a protected monument in South Goa.
Hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Aditya Dattu Raut Dessai, the division bench of Justice Valmiki Menezes and Justice Amit Jamsandekar observed that the matter concerns alleged destruction and damage to the surroundings of the temple, which is a State-protected monument under the Goa Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1978.
As per records, the GTDC had submitted a proposal in September 2018 seeking permission for beautification works at the site. The Directorate of Archives and Archaeology subsequently granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for construction of a retaining wall, a viewpoint platform, a toilet block, and related beautification works.
However, the court noted that the petition and photographs on record prima facie indicate that extensive damage may have been caused to areas beyond the sanctioned work. The Additional Government Advocate appearing for the Directorate submitted that the damage would have to be restored and that steps are being initiated in that regard.
The High Court directed the GTDC to place on record the complete proposal submitted for the project, along with plans, annexures, work orders, specifications, and details of expenditure incurred and proposed.
The Directorate of Archives and Archaeology has also been directed to file an affidavit explaining the decision-making process for granting the NOC and to provide an estimate of the cost required to restore the site to its original condition. The court observed prima facie that such restoration cost shall be borne by the Directorate.
Further, the Managing Director of GTDC has been instructed to ensure that the contractor engaged for the project is duly served and represented before the court on the next date of hearing.
The matter has been posted for further hearing on April 7.
