Goa govt to set up Design Advisory Panel instead of Urban Arts

The Goa government Wednesday said it would withdraw its decision to set up Urban Arts Commission (UAC) and instead constitute Design Advisory Panel (DAP) to help the state retain its unique architectural identity.

The state government had last month decided to constitute the UAC to advise it and the local governing bodies on preservation and maintenance of architectural heritage in the state.

However, during a panel discussion held recently, there were suggestions that setting up a UAC may not serve the purpose. Experts also suggested that forming a DAP would be a better idea, state Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai said.

"During the recent panel discussion organised by the Indian Institute of Architect, Goa Chapter, there was a suggestion that Urban Arts Commission may not take us to where we want to reach. It would be yet another regulatory mechanism, which will only make you come to another set of controls," he said.

"I also felt that if the commission is not going to take us where we want to reach, then we will have to review it," he added.

The minister met renowned architects like Edgar Ribeiro and Manguesh Prabhugaonkar at Porvorim on Wednesday. During their meeting, it was decided that instead of UAC, it should form DAP.

Sardesai said no politician, including he himself, will be a part of the DAP and it would comprise "only professionals and government servants".

"The basic function of the DAP would be to look after the architectural aesthetics. The architect will have to approach the DAP and put up his case (before it) and explain why his project should be approved...We will have one DAP each for North and South Goa," Sardesai said.