govt intervention sought to save religious structures
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, APRIL 28
The exercise of hearing concerned parties on the illegal religious structures got underway in South Goa, even as some representatives have called for the government intervention in the matter and save the religious structures a la Cidade de Goa.
The District Collector G P Naik heading the high-level committee has, however, said the parties have agreed to shift or relocate the structures facing the axe.
A couple of representatives from Canacona and Quepem have charged the district magistrate for acting in a dictatorial manner by not listening to their grievances on the question of shifting the Sai Baba ghumti at Canacona and the Satyanarayan Temple at Curchorem.
The Committee constituted by the government to review the religious structures identified by the revenue officials had invited concerned parties from Canacona and Quepem talukas for deliberations on the structures located in government land or land acquired by the government for road widening.
After the meeting, the district Magistrate said most of the parties have agreed to relocate the religious structures beyond the road widening areas after being briefed on the Supreme Court order.
“There may be two to three cases where there may be some problem, but I am confident that better sense would prevail upon the parties”, he said.
He said around 18 religious structures have been identified by the revenue officials in Canacona taluka, adding that the fate of the many of these structures will be decided by the Administrator of Communidades.
“As far as a Cross and Sai Baba Temple is concerned, the Committee has left it for the Canacona Municipal Council to take a decision”, Naik added.
As far as Quepem taluka is concerned where a total of 10 such structures stands identified, Naik said the fate of 2-3 structures will have to be decided by the Communidade Administrator, adding the parties have agree to relocate the structures.
Naik said the Satyanarayan Temple at Curchorem cannot be save since the authorities has already put the area for land acquisition.
Incidentally, the President of Maruti Temple, Canacona Krishna Desai, however, charged the district Magistrate for not willing to listen to the contention of the parties.
“This 40-year old religious structure is not affecting the road at all. The NH-17 is not passing by the Temple. If the authorities are hell bent in removing the structures, they have to start from somewhere. The authorities should make arrangements to shift the structures”, he said, while demanding that the Magistrate should come to the taluka and hear what the residents have to say on the issue.
Similarly, the president of the Satyanarayan Temple said the government should file an affidavit in the Supreme Court and should hold the process of demolitions on hold.
“Even during the Portuguese era, such a major exercise was unheard of. The government should respect the sentiments of the people and intervene in the Supreme Court”, he added.
