TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Laying of a water pipeline near St John the Baptist Church, Benaulim kicked up a huge row as agitated Parishioners on Monday stopped the ongoing work near the Cemetery in protest against its commencement without permission from the church authorities.
Colva police also rushed to the spot as a precautionary measure as agitated Parishioners and residents stopped the heavy earth machinery from carrying out the work this evening.
A parishioner Bernard Fernandes lamented that work on the pipeline laying is being carried out without the green signal from the Church authorities. “How can the PWD or any other authorities undertake the road digging activity to lay the line in the Church property without the necessary permission,” he demanded to know.
When Herald contacted St John the Baptist Church Parish Priest Fr Nelson Colaco, he said the proposal of the government to lay the pipeline was referred to the Church Authorities in Panjim and the permission is awaited. “The government authorities should have waited for the Church authorities for the green signal to start the work since the property belongs to the Church,” Fr Nelson said.
The parishioners were also perturbed that an existing water tank built in the area is not put to public use.
Benaulim MLA Caitu, said that the work is being carried out under the JICA project for a water pipeline in Benaulim. He, however, feigned ignorance that the PWD officials have carried out the work on Monday, saying that he would look into the matter.
“The government has mooted a water supply project to the village by constructing an overhead tank of 2000 cubic meters. The pipeline was being laid as part of the project,” Caitu added.
