Panaji, Jul 20 (IANS): The Goa government on Wednesday decided to demarcate the heritage sites and structures in the state to curb encroachment.

Replying to a question raised by Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai on the flor of the Assembly, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that protecting heritage sites is very important.

Sardesai had asked whether the heritage sites and structures were demarcated by the government in order to protect them.

"The directorate of land survey and land records, the archeology department or the TCP has not carried out this exercise. This has to be done. The government needs to demarcate the boundaries of heritage sites and structures along with forts," Sardesai said.

In reply, Sawant said, "The archeology department will carry out the demarcation of the heritage sites and structures in the state to curb encroachment."

Sardesai, a former TCP minister, said that there is a tendency among the concerned departments to pass the onus to each other, which should not happen.

"Demarcation is needed for the protection of the heritage sites. Hence the concerned departments have to decide which will will do the work," he said.A

Sawant said that there is a need to protect the heritage sites and in future the archeological department will issue notifications and will carry out the exercise of demarcation.

The opposition in Goa has been demanding action against an alleged illegal structure in Old Goa in the vicinity of a Unesco heritage site.

AAP MLA Cruz Silva had also raised the issue in the House, saying illegal constructions are taking place at the heritage sites.