the goan I network
VASCO
Reacting to reports on demands for another religious statue in the Vaddem Lake, the Fabrica da Igreja de Vasco (St Andrew’s Church) at Vasco on Saturday said the lake is in absolute possession of the church body, adding that any decision regarding its development has to be taken in consultation with the church body.
This statement was issued by the president of Fabrica da Igreja de Vasco Apricio Pereira, in response to news reports that some residents had demanded the installation of another religious statue in the lake.
On Friday morning, Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) Chairperson Kritesh Gaonkar had said the council had received a proposal for another religious statue at the Vaddem lake and he would place it before a council meeting.
Gaonkar had said the GSUDA had even submitted a revised plan to the MMC, with provisions to have another platform in the lake for the installation of another religious statue.
Pereira said any decision regarding the lake and its development has to be taken only in consultation with the Fabrica da Igreja de Vasco (St Andrew’s Church), which owns the Vaddem lake spread over 5,000 sq mtrs
at Vaddem.
“Such statements are aimed at hampering the communal harmony in the area. It must be noted here that since the lake was getting polluted with garbage and sewage being dumped, the parish priest in 2012 approached the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) with a request to clean the lake.”
“Due to paucity of funds the MMC requested the Goa State Urban development Authority (GSUDA) to clean the lake. Meanwhile, residents in the area also approached local MLA and Panchayats Minister Mauvin Godinho to get the lake cleaned,” said Pereira.
“Accordingly, Godinho took the initiative and decided to clean and beautify the lake through GSUDA. The ownership of the Lake with the surrounding open area belongs to the Fabrica da Igreja de Vasco (St Andrew’s Church) and shall continue to do so. As such, the Fabrica has requested the MMC that maintenance of the lake and its surroundings be entrusted to the Fabrica and to no other organization,” said Pereira.
He also stated that the entire infrastructure for the beautification of the lake has also been developed in the property of Fabrica da Igreja de Vasco and the Fabrica, therefore, wishes to maintain the lake on a regular basis at its own cost.
“The Fabrica would like to ensure the lake, which is adjacent to the college constructed by the Fabrica, is maintained in a proper manner conducive to the atmosphere of an educational institution,”
said Pereira.
ASSERTING ITS AUTHORITY
ï®â€†Fabrica da Igreja de Vasco (St Andrew’s Church) owns the Vaddem lake spread over 5,000 sq mtrs at Vaddem
ï®â€†A representative of the church informed that the parish priest in 2012 approached the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) with a request to clean the lake
ï®â€†Due to paucity of funds the MMC requested Goa State Urban development Authority (GSUDA) to clean the lake
ï®â€†The institute has asserted that the maintenance of the lake should be left to it
