COLVALE: It has been known that several structures in Colvale itself would be razed to make way for a new highway passing through the village.
A local of Colvale and India’s ace Fashion Designer, Wendell Rodricks pointed out how a highway is being cut through Colvale and badly planned development is being carried out across the state. He has vouched to fight for this 100-year-old chapel as well as the six iconic mango trees in the village.
“For this unplanned highway widening project are they allowed to destroy a place of worship that is over 100 years old? The Supreme Court orders says that after the Babri Masjid was demolished no religious structure in the country can be demolished. There is no other place in the waddo they can built it and it does not make sense building the chapel from our waddo elsewhere. We will stand there and fight,” said Wendell when contacted.
He also narrated the protest near the mango trees at Colvale was held on Wednesday and the next day a CID officer came to his residence to enquire whether he was attending the meeting called by the PWD minister over the issue of cutting down of the trees. The CID official visited his place on Thursday morning two hours before the time the meeting was scheduled with other activists and the PWD officers.
“Someone in civilian came to my home at around 9.00 am and sort to know whether I was going to attend the meeting on Thursday at 11.00 am. My partner opened the door and after this incident I feel threatened. We didn’t even ask for his name or ID proof. I am really upset, why should the police or an imposter visit me and what is their business in this. I have been opposing the destruction caused due to this highway work may it be the old trees or the chapel hence they are trying to threaten me,” told Rodricks.
When contacted the MLA of Thivim, Nilkanth Halarnkar on the issues of the chapel he told Herald he approached the PWD minister regarding the chapel and he was told that the chapel will be demolished and reconstructed at another spot. “This land where the chapel is placed has already been acquired in 1986. The Minister has agreed to reconstruct this chapel at Colvale but this one has to be demolished. The new one will be built in an area more than the existing one. I have informed the people to discuss on the same and get back to me. After they discuss among themselves and approach the bishop they will get back to me,” said Nilkanth.
“I am ready to take them and the minister is ready to help them. We will be taking an appointment and then meeting him,” he added.
Besides this chapel two other temples will also be demolished to make way for this highway.
