Government officials who were present for the inspection at the Basilica of Bom Jesus on Monday, ahead of the novena and feast of St Francis Xavier. Captured by : Manuel Vaz
OLD GOA
With over a week to go for the start of the novena and feast of St Francis Xavier, various government and Church authorities conducted an inspection at the Basilica of Bom Jesus at Old Goa to oversee the preparations.
Among the officials present for the inspection included those from the North Goa Collectorate, Transport Department, Traffic, PWD, Fire Force, Archaeological Survey of India, Se Old Goa panchayat and others.
Rector of the Basilica Fr Patricio Fernandes and Se Old Goa Sarpanch Sandra Gonsalves were among those present for the inspection.
Additional Collector Sanjiv Dessai who overlooked the inspection issued directions to the various authorities to undertake their respective works.
He also sought opinions from the church authorities on the works that need to be done to ensure smooth functioning of the novena and feast.
Meanwhile, Dessai issued directions to the Se Old Goa panchayat authorities to ensure that those who are allotted stalls for the fair are given identity cards, which they should wear at all times.
“The stalls should not be allowed to be sub-let to a third party and the ID card should have the stamp of the panchayat over the photograph of the individual allotted the stall,” Dessai said.
He added that inspectors would conduct random checks to ensure that the original allottees remain present at the stalls.
The directives come as a resident, John Mascarenhas, has filed a complaint with the Collector that stalls are being sub-let to third parties for a huge price, due to which he had asked for the Collector’s intervention in the matter.
