Panaji: State govt has approved an investment promotion area (IPA) on 68,550sqm of communidade land at Latambarcem, in Bicholim. The area will be developed by the Siddhagiri Gurukul Trust to set up libraries, archives, a museum showcasing the 16 Samskaras of Sanatan Dharma, a children’s games park and other cultural facilities.Earlier, the Goa investment promotion and facilitation board received an application from Siddhagiri Gurukul Trust for the project. After the board granted in-principle approval to the proposal. State govt invited public objections, which were heard by the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (Goa-IDC) managing director.Govt rejected the objections and directed the industries department to notify the area as an investment promotion area.In a cabinet note, industries secretary Santosh Sukhadeve said Siddhagiri Mutt, based in Kaneri in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra, is the principal seat of the Kadsiddheshwar tradition. The mutt established the Siddhagiri museum in Kaneri, in 2007, to preserve traditional Indian village life and culture.According to the note, the museum receives around 5,000 visitors daily and has three thematic sections: Ancient India, pre-Mughal Indian villages, and festivals celebrated across India, particularly in Maharashtra and Karnataka. Revenue generated by the museum is used to support free and subsidised treatment for economically weaker patients at Siddhagiri hospital.
