TEAM HERALD
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CALANGUTE: Tension prevailed at Umtta Vaddo, Calangute on Thursday, after a barricade to a religious structure near the St John The Baptist Chapel was demolished and later re-built after intervention by a politician.
The religious structure has been in the midst of controversy over the road-widening work from Calangute Association to Hotel Charlston in Khobra Vaddo, Calangute.
According to reports, the incident took place when Joseph Sequeira along with panchas and owners of the religious structure visited the site and found a concrete barricade being constructed to protect the religious structure.
The group objected to the development stating that the religious structure is private property and added that they had decided to shift the religious structure.
The owners of the religious structure then told the contractor that they were going to shift the religious structure, as it is their private property and asked the contractor to stop the work and remove the barricade. The contractor agreed and started demolishing the barricade in presence of the group.
Meanwhile, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo rushed to the site and stopped the demolition. PI Rane also rushed to the site and directed the contractor not to stop the work or demolish any structure without his directives. Lobo questioned the contractor as to who directed him to demolish the structure, but the contractor failed to name the person. PI Rane asked the owner of the religious structure to put forth their views in writing to him for needful action.
“I will not tolerate such things and will not allow anyone claiming to be the owners of the religious structure to shift the structure without an order from the North Goaa Collector for its removal from the present site. Nobody will be allowed to play with religious sentiments and disturb peace in the locality,” said MLA Lobo.
The re-construction work of the barricade for the religious structure continued with police protection with directives to the contractor not to allow anyone either to stop or come in the way of development.
Another possible public spat between Lobo and Sequeira was averted, as the Sequeira group was at Baga-end, while Lobo was at the Calangute-end.
Lobo-Sequeira rift widens
CALANGUTE: The rift between friends Calangute MLA Michael Lobo and Calangute Panchayat de facto leader Joseph Sequeira widened on Thursday with Sequeira accusing Lobo of misguiding Calangute residents and refuting Lobo’s allegations that the Calangute panchayat members had plans to shift the religious structure at Umtta Vaddo, Calangute.
“The Calangute Panchayat or its members never said that we were going to remove or shift the religious structure, but it was a suggestion by a local and owner of the religious structure, Walter Lobo, to GSIDC Managing Director Sanjith Rodrigues,” Sequeira told Herald.
“Walter claimed that they were ready to shift the religious structure, as it was built by his great grandfather and we saw nothing wrong in it. We had earlier shifted two religious structures with the blessing of St Alex Church, Calangute, Parish Priest Fr Cypriano D’Silva and the co-operation of the villagers,” stated Sequeira.
“As far as we are concerned, no locals objected to the development when the entire panchayat and members visited the site on November 25 and interacted with the GSIDC contractor. The religious structure is however being shown on the road-widened area and the Calangute MLA should not misguide the villagers of Calangute,” he added.
Meanwhile, Walter Lobo and Agnelo Lobo claimed that the religious structure was constructed by Walter’s great grandfather. They insisted that it is a private religious structure belonging to the Lobo families and said the Chapel had no right over it. They also claimed that they were willing to shift the religious structure to another location considering the interest of the locals and tourists.
“I do not want more deaths to occur along the road due to the religious structure,” said Walter.
