The Basilica of Bom Jesus at Old Goa holds an important place in the history of Goan Catholicism. It is an architectural beauty, home to the relics of St. Francis Xavier and draws lakhs of visitors every year. However the rector of the Basilica Fr Patricio Fernandes has revealed on Sunday that the Basilica is in imminent danger of collapsing unless it’s exposed laterite walls are plastered.
It is learnt that the walls of the world-heritage site are completely drenched. There is water seeping through the walls. It is understood that the walls of the Basilica were plastered from 1605, when it was inaugurated till 1950. Ten years later in 1960, the government ordered that the walls be plastered again. However after the liberation of Goa in 1961 the matter was completely forgotten.
According to the Fr Patricio the walls of the Basilica are simply going off and one can feel the powder of the stones. The Basilica of Bom Jesus could meet the same fate as the façade of St. Roque Church at Tolecanto in Velim which recently collapsed due to water seepage if plastering of the walls of the Basilica is not done on a war footing. It is time for Goans to come together in order to impress upon the government to take necessary remedial steps through the Archeological Survey of India (ASI).
The Catholic MLAs need to raise the matter in the assembly during the current session.
ADELMO FERNANDES, Vasco
