TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Plans to renovate the St Joseph Chapel, Banda, in Assolna village has kicked up a row of sorts.
While the five Bandkar families comprising of the Almeidas, D’Souzas, Martins’, Gracias’ and D’Mellos have claimed ownership of the chapel, Assolna Parish Priest Fr Lucio Dias has made it clear that the Archbishop was the owner.
Moreover, the families have further claimed that attempts are being made to demolish and reconstruct the chapel under the guise of renovation. But Fr Lucio has begged to differ. He said the Chapel is only being renovated to accommodate more faithful.
Benson Almeida said the Bandkars will not tolerate any attempt to demolish the chapel belonging to the five families. “We will stop any plan to demolish the chapel”, he warned. Jose Subhash Almeida asserted that the St Joseph Chapel does not belong to the Bishop or the Parish Priest and took exception to Fr Lucio’s submission before the TCP and the Panchayat that he is the owner of the chapel. “We will oppose all plans to demolish the chapel. We will also take legal recourse to protect our ownership rights”, he told the media.
Parish Priest Fr Lucio, however, said the chapel is only being renovated to accommodate more people. “Based on the Bishop’s permission, the file was submitted to the TCP and to the Assolna Panchayat, which have given the permission”, Fr Lucio said.
On the ownership question, Fr Lucio said the ownership and administration of the chapel belongs to the Archbishop. “No individual or group can claim right of ownership of the chapel irrespective of the fact who had constructed it. The Bandkars, who claim that the chapel belongs to them, have no right to say the chapel belongs to them”, Fr Lucio asserted.
