MARGAO: The government has reconstituted the Conservation Committee under the Goa Land Development and Building Construction Regulation with TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai as the chairman and Chief Secretary as the vice-chairman. This was disclosed by Sardesai.

The Chief Town Planner of TCP Department will be the member secretary of the 13-member committee that will have the Town & Country Planning Secretary, Chief Architect of Public Works Department, Superintending Architect of Archaeological Survey of India and Director of Archives and Archaeology Department as members.

Other members will be nominees of the following institutions or organizations: Indian Institute of Architects, Institute of Engineering, Institute of Town Planners Goa chapter and Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India.

Two members of the committee who are experts in the field of architecture and heritage are Ketak S P Nachinolkar from Panaji and Ernesto Moniz from Margao.

Vijai said mandate of this committee that normally regulates any development in conservation zones has been increased to include identifying areas of architectural heritage so that they can be conserved.