VICTORY FOR NATURAL HERITAGE: High Court Halts Commercialization of Fort Aguada
Calangute: In a landmark judgment, the High Court has stopped the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) from allowing commercial development at Fort Aguada, a 17th-century Portuguese-era heritage site in Goa. The verdict is a major win for heritage activists and the Calangute Constituency Forum, which has strongly opposed the commercialization of the protected monument.
Forum president Premanand Divkar welcomed the order, calling it a significant step in safeguarding Goa’s cultural and historical legacy. “We urge the ASI and State Government to respect the court’s ruling and focus on scientific conservation, public education, and responsible tourism in line with heritage protection laws,” he stated.
The judgment sends a clear message to authorities and developers: heritage cannot be sacrificed for commercial gain. It sets an important precedent for the protection of other heritage sites in Goa. The onus now lies with ASI and the State Government to implement the court’s directions and ensure Fort Aguada is preserved for future generations.
