📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Fredericknoronha
Local
Objection Lodged Against TCP Clearance for Farmhouses Near Monte Chapel, Old Goa
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 26 Jul 2026, 05:03 AM
👁 1
A formal objection has been filed against the Technical Clearance Permit (TCP) granted for the construction of farmhouses near Monte Chapel in Old Goa, raising concerns over heritage conservation and land use.
A formal objection has been lodged against the Technical Clearance Permit (TCP) issued for the construction of a cluster of farmhouses near Monte Chapel in Old Goa. The objection was filed by local residents and heritage conservation groups who argue that the development could compromise the visual integrity of the historic chapel and surrounding landscape.
Monte Chapel, a 16th‑century Portuguese church, sits on a hill overlooking the Arabian Sea and is a key part of Goa’s colonial heritage. The proposed farmhouses, which would be built on adjacent land, are said to be in close proximity to the chapel’s protected zone.
Critics contend that the new structures could obstruct sightlines to the chapel, alter the character of the heritage area, and set a precedent for further non‑heritage developments in the vicinity. They also point out that the land in question is designated for agricultural use, and converting it to residential purposes may contravene state land‑use policies.
The Goa State Department of Archaeology and the Department of Town Planning have been notified of the objection. An inquiry will be conducted to assess the impact of the proposed farmhouses on the heritage site and to determine whether the TCP should be revoked or amended.
The objection underscores the ongoing tension between development pressures and heritage preservation in Goa’s historic districts, a debate that has intensified as the state seeks to balance tourism growth with conservation.
Monte Chapel, a 16th‑century Portuguese church, sits on a hill overlooking the Arabian Sea and is a key part of Goa’s colonial heritage. The proposed farmhouses, which would be built on adjacent land, are said to be in close proximity to the chapel’s protected zone.
Critics contend that the new structures could obstruct sightlines to the chapel, alter the character of the heritage area, and set a precedent for further non‑heritage developments in the vicinity. They also point out that the land in question is designated for agricultural use, and converting it to residential purposes may contravene state land‑use policies.
The Goa State Department of Archaeology and the Department of Town Planning have been notified of the objection. An inquiry will be conducted to assess the impact of the proposed farmhouses on the heritage site and to determine whether the TCP should be revoked or amended.
The objection underscores the ongoing tension between development pressures and heritage preservation in Goa’s historic districts, a debate that has intensified as the state seeks to balance tourism growth with conservation.