Besides sand and sea the churches in Goa are one of themajor tourist attractions in the State. Tourists from far and wide make it apoint to visit many of the churches in the State.
Mae de Deus church at Saligao is one such church in NorthGoa, which is known for its Gothic style of architecture.
The church looks particularly beautiful when it is lit up atnight. The illuminated Saligao church has a unique charm that attracts largenumber of tourists.
Tourists come to Saligao especially during nights to get aglimpse of the beautiful façade of the church, but since past few months thelights are not functioning and as a result the church is in near darkness.
A number of letters were written to the tourism minister,who is the local MLA but nothing has changed on the ground and the churchcontinues to remain in darkness.
“The lighting is in bad state. We had written letters to thedepartment a few months back informing them the lights on the facade were notfunctioning. Even the compound wall lights are not working,” said Fr LucianoFernandes, the Parish priest of Saligao church.
It was during the Congress government in early 1980s thatthe church’s illumination work was first undertaken by the tourism department.
“More than 50 percentof lights used to illuminate the church are presently not functioning. Almostthe entire church is in darkness. The government should take immediate steps toilluminate the church which attracts large number of tourists, said SebyFernandes from Saligao.
Built in1873, the Mai de Deus church in Saligao was thefirst church to be illuminated in the State.
Former Chief Minister and Saligao MLA, Dr Wilfred de Souzawondered how the local MLA who is also the Tourism Minister could ignore thechurch in his constituency.
“The church wasilluminated during my tenure. Currently the church is in total darkness whichreflects on the local MLA. Despite being the Tourism Minister the MLA can donothing,” Dr Willy said.
“Since the churchbelongs to the tourism department who are supposed to maintain it, we expectedthe department to take immediate steps. We had great hopes on the TourismMinister but till now nothing has happened,” the parish priest said.
When contacted, Tourism Minister, Dilip Parulekar said:“Work on restoration of the facade lights of the church will be taken up by thetourism department. An estimate of Rs 80,000 is already prepared and the workis expected to be completed before Christmas.”
