OLD GOA
The Save Old Goa Action Committee (SOGAC), on Sunday, marked the completion of 200 days of its satyagraha, which has been going on since November 24, 2021 in demand of the demolition of the illegal structure which has come up within heritage precincts of St Cajetan Church.
Apart from members of SOGAC, a large number of people also turned up at the protest site to express their solidarity with the satyagrahis, which included politicos, priests and activists.
Prominent among those included St Cruz MLA Rudolf Fernandes, Chicalim parish priest Fr Bolmax Pereira, Sao Jose de Areal parish priest Fr Eusico Pereira, GPCC president Amit Patkar, Congress leader Captain Viriato Fernandes, activist Anthony D’Silva and others.
Speaking on the occasion, Fr Bolmax Pereira expressed gratitude to the satyagrahis for having endured for 200 days in continuing with the agitation.
However, Fr Pereira expressed dismay that the government is acting blind and deaf to the pleas of the people thus far.
“My concern is for how long will the satyagraha go on for the structure to be razed?” he posed.
On the same note though, the priest said that he is happy that some encouraging steps are taken by the government against illegal structures in the State and hoped that this illegal structure in Old Goa will also be demolished.
“I also welcome the decision of the TCP minister to demarcate 100 metres from the heritage sites as no development zones,” Fr Pereira informed.
Activist Anthony D’Silva demanded that the MLAs should take up the issue at the upcoming Assembly session.
“On July 13, issues related to TCP will be taken up and the MLAs should ask starred questions on the Old Goa structure issue,” D’Silva added.
