MARGAO, MAY 10
Even as the district magistrate has convened a meeting with the clergy on Tuesday on the issue of demolition of religious structures of the Catholic community, a Christian group has asked the Magistrate to invite representatives or caretakers of the Chapels and holy Crosses before taking any decision.
The meeting will be presided over by Deputy Collector, Margao Johnson Fernandes at 11 am in the District Collectorate. However, the Christian group Catholic Action has urged the district magistrate to also invite representatives of the numerous chapels to be affected by the Supreme Court directives.
Joseph Vaz said the local chapels and crosses are being managed by local committees and they should be heard by the district magistrate before taking a final decision.
The group objected to the invitation of only members of the clergy for tomorrow’s meeting when the local committees are the care takers of the holy crosses and chapels.
The exercise was initiated by the district magistrate after the government constituted a high level committee to hear the parties concerned before making recommendations.
The District Magistrate, South has already heard representatives of temple committees from Canacona, Quepem and Sanguem and has taken several decisions to save the structures by relocating them away from road widening areas.
