PANAJI: The town and country planning (TCP) conservation committee on Wednesday decided that projects given approval must prove compliance with conservation rules before obtaining a completion certificate from the authorities concerned, minister Vijai Sardesai said. 

The decision was taken in light of several instances where development projects promise to adhere to guidelines, but after the necessary permissions are granted, the guidelines are flouted. 

The committee also deliberated over incentives and guidelines that could promote conservation of Goa’s unique architecture through a heritage conservation policy. 

“We are going in for a heritage policy that will decide what types of houses will come up in conservation areas. The process of formulation has begun,” Sardesai said. 

The TCP’s conservation committee has a technical panel that comprises architects, conservation experts and planners. This sub-committee, together with the director of archives and archeology, will decide on incentives and guidelines that will help promote conservation of Goa’s architectural style, TCP officials said. 

The policy will decide the style of architecture to be followed during construction of houses and commercial projects in areas marked as heritage conservation zones. “There is a need to preserve Goa for posterity. I would like to see the heritage policy in place before the upcoming assembly session in July,” Sardesai said. 

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