CALANGUTE: Residents of Arpora-Nagoa-Baga, Candolim and Calangute besides parishioners and social activists, on Sunday, gathered in large numbers to protest against the controversial hill cutting at Xavier Retreat Centre, Baga.
Speakers and the management of Xavier Retreat Centre demanded immediate arrest of local Panch Cleophas Fernandes, who was released on bail, and restoration of the protection wall.
Addressing the gathering, Fr Ronnie D’Souza, Director of the Centre, said, “We have never given any permission to whomsoever except NOC for WRD to construct a retaining wall facing the sea. The NOC is being misinterpreted and misused to cover the wrong deeds, especially the hill cutting and trespass into our property belonging to the Jesuit Community. The alleged Panch Cleophas Fernandes bulldozed his way into our property for a road access without any oral or written permission.”
Fr Savio Baretto, in-charge of Jesuit Community properties, said, “Being in-charge of properties belonging to the Jesuit Community, the hill cutting by trespassing into our property is nothing but insult to us. Today, our hill (church property) is cut, tomorrow it can be anyone’s property, so we need to unite and raise our voice against the illegalities and perpetrators of illegal acts.”
“We want the police to arrest the local panch Fernandes and we have written to the chief minister to get the repairs done to the wall to save the Retreat House atop the hill,” stated Fr Baretto.
Prajal Sakhardande, Heritage Goa activist, said, “The 1953-built religious structure has its own historical importance and nobody will be allowed to destroy it. Goa has seen a lot of destruction through CRZ violations, hills, paddy fields, etc, which should not be tolerated anymore.”
Adv Yatish Naik said, “We Goans have been demanding special status and a good regional plan to save our land and hopefully we should get it. We need to have a prohibitory mechanism in place so that nobody can destroy places like these.”
Our Lady of Hope, Candolim, Parish Priest Fr Robin Rodrigues said, “We should unite and fight against injustice in the society and save Goa from further destruction.”
St Alex Church, Calangute, Parish Priest Fr Cypriano D’Silva opined that there is a possibility of the Retreat House collapsing during monsoon if nothing is done.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo said, “Local Panch Cleophas Fernandes misused the works of WRD to cut the hill for a private road through the Church property for his illegal shack behind the Retreat House.”
“Anjuna police instead of arresting Fernandes gave him VIP treatment at the behest of a minister in the BJP government for a very serious crime. Today, the Retreat Centre is on the verge of collapse due to the casual approach by the Anjuna police which could eventually turn into a major tragedy. The work on damaged protection wall needs to be taken up on a war footing to avoid any embarrassment to the BJP government.”
Adv Aires Rodrigues, Calangute ZP member Shawn Martins, Arpora-Nagoa Sarpanch Sushma Nagvekar, Kunda Kerkar of Save Calangute and Fatima Pereira of Save Old Goa Action Committee also addressed the gathering.
