The old Hospicio heritage building.
MARGAO
Citizens of Margao have expressed strong reservations over the government’s move to approach the Inspectorate of Survey and Land Records to consider the Directorate of Health Services as the owner of the old Hospicio hospital property.
Addressing the media, the citizens, led by former Margao Municipal Chairperson Savio Coutinho, pointed out that the Hospicio institution was founded by Padre Miranda over a century and a half ago to cater to the medical needs of citizens of Margao and South Goa.
“How can the government or the Directorate of Health Services approach the Survey department to consider the Directorate as the owner of the old Hospicio property?” Coutinho questioned.
He said the Hospicio hospital, founded by Padre Miranda through donations, had served millions of people over the past 150 years. He demanded that the government protect Padre Miranda’s legacy by continuing to provide health-related facilities at the property.
He reminded that citizens from Margao and Fatorda have been demanding for several years that the government allow Caritas Goa to set up a shelter, day-care facility or some other health-related facility at the old Hospicio building to maintain and protect the legacy left behind by Padre Miranda.
“Apart from taking over the property once purchased and owned by Padre Miranda, we fear that the government may completely wipe out Padre Miranda’s legacy by utilising the property for activities not related to health,” Coutinho said, demanding that the government respect public sentiment and preserve Padre Miranda’s legacy
for posterity.
The citizens are bracing for a survey of the property ordered by the Survey department before considering the request of the Directorate of Health Services to name it as the property owner.
