Team Herald
VASCO: St Andrew’s Church Parish Priest Fr Gabriel Coutinho on Saturday requested Urban Development Minister Milind Naik and Director of Municipal Administration to hand over the beautified Vaddem Lake back to the church.
During a special meeting held in the church hall, here, to discuss the Vaddem Lake issue, Fr Coutinho informed that the lake belongs to the church. Between the year 2011 and 2012 then parish priest Fr Costa had written a letter to the Mormugao Municipal Council only to “beautify” the lake. During that time Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida was the chairperson, who had initiated this project. Later in the year 2014, Dabolim Constituency MLA and Minister for Panchayat Mauvin Godinho took this project ahead for beautification.
“On behalf of the Vasco people I am thankful to Godinho, Vasco MLA, MMC and Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA), who has beautified this lake,” said Fr Coutinho.
Pointing out some major points in this matter, the parish priest informed that the church hasn’t signed any memorandum with the government and the lake was only given for the beautification. If we knew that after beautification, the government, MMC will lay claim over this lake then church would have not given the lake for the beautification to the government. We went ahead with our good faith and to develop public utility, which will benefit all.
Fr Coutinho urged the Urban Development Minister and DMA to recognise church as the owner of Vaddem Lake and hand it over back to the Church as the church is capable of maintaining the beautified lake. We have sought for the appointments to meet the Urban Development Minister and Minister Panchayat in this regard. If needed, we will also meet the Chief Minister to get back this lake which is ours.
“I urge parishioners to request their ward councillors to take up this issue. If need arises we will also start signature campaign to get back the lake,” Fr Coutinho added. “At this point we will try all friendly ways such as dialogue, discussion to get back the lake. If the issue still doesn’t resolve then we will be forced to knock the door of the judiciary,” Fr Coutinho warned.
“I have also observed that some people try to misuse this premises by drinking liquor and throwing glass bottles, tin canes in and around the beautified lake. The plant saplings which were planted year ago died due to no maintenance,” the parish priest added.
“The Vaddem Lake belongs to the Fabrica (church) and it is my duty to protect it.”
The parish priest also mentioned that he has learned that Memorandum of understanding will be signed between the MMC and GSUDA excluding the Church, when the lake and land surrounding the lake belongs to the church.
Around 50 people attended the meeting including Treasurer Shubert Sequeira, Special Attorney Apprecio Pereira, Attorney of Fabrica Savio Messias and other Fabrica members Marie Viegas and Pascoal Gama, maintaining social distancing and other safety norms.
