NT NETWORK
Vasco
The members of the Fabrica of St Andrew’s Church Vasco has decided to launch a signature campaign and to explore other avenues like approaching legal course of action to stake claim over the Vaddem Lake before signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Mormugao municipal council (MMC) and Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) for the purpose of maintaining the lake.
An emergency meeting of the members of the Fabrica of St Andrew’s Church Vasco and other parishioners was convened by the parish priest of St Andrew’s Church Fr Gabriel Coutinho who is also the president of the Fabrica at St Andrew’s Institute Hall on Saturday evening in order to take into confidence of all members before going ahead with steps to fight for their rights.
The meeting was attended by the attorney of the Fabrica of St Andrew’s Church Vasco Savio Messias, special attorney Apprecio Pereira, treasurer Shubert Sequeira, members Maria Viegas, Pascoal Gama and others.
The parish priest explained in detail about the Vaddem Lake project which was taken for beautification by the state government under GSUDA. He said that the Vaddem Lake property belonged to St Andrew’s Church, however during the course of inauguration all the members of the Fabrica were left high and dry as the name of the Church and the Fabrica went missing from the plaque.
“The members of the Fabrica and the Church were taken to a surprise when we found our name reportedly missing from the plaque. I appreciate the efforts taken by the state government and even by the Minister for Transport Mauvin Godinho and the Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida to complete the dream project for the betterment of Vascoites. However it is very painful for the members of the Fabrica and the Church for not considering our name on the plaque, certainly snatching our rights over the lake”, said Coutinho.
“There is a question of maintaining the Vaddem Lake. The MMC and GSUDA have decided to sign the MoU without considering the Fabrica and the Church. Therefore we have decided to approach the concerned MLAs and DMA for their immediate intervention in order to stake claim over the Vaddem Lake. We have decided to launch a signature campaign from all wards of the municipal council. The Vaddem Lake is a public utility project and we don’t want to intervene into the public utilities. Only thing is that the authorities should give us our rights as the Vaddem Lake property belongs to the Fabrica and the Church”, said Coutinho.
The parish priest has raised serious concern over the misuse of Vaddem Lake by some anti-social elements during the nights which are mainly due to its non-maintenance.
“We will explore our avenues to stake claim over Vaddem Lake. We have given our property to develop as the water body is in our plan. We are rightful owners, but there was no MoU signed while beautifying the lake”, disclosed Coutinho.
