Margao: Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao has made a fervent appeal to the Chief Minister and other ministers to take up repairs and protect the Bom Jesus Basilica, Old Goa. He also urged the Minister for Archaeology Babu Kavlekar to take up the issue and complete the pending work at the Basilica.
Speaking to media at his Varca office, Alemao said there was an urgent need to protect not only the church structure but the relics of Saint Francis Xavier that are also housed in the Basilica.
“The Rector, Fr Patricio Fernandes had written that the structure was in need of urgent repairs. The work had begun on January 2 and was to be completed in two months, but that part of the structure is just left open. With the recent rain, the place was flooded and now requires a termite treatment control. If it is not done the termites will spread. Today, St Francis is protecting the state. It is because of his presence, there has been no major tragedy in Goa. He is the reason there is no death due to Coronavirus too. His relics are here and if we don’t protect it, it will be disastrous,” he said.
He urged the state’s minister’s including the chief minister to act immediately. “I request Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Babu Kavlekar who is the Archaeology Minister and the central ministry to speak to the authorities and immediately do the termite treatment for the entire church. This should be done with urgency and finished before the start of the monsoon,” said Alemao.
He also added that the church which is considered a heritage structure was built over 400 years ago and visited by thousands of people from around the world. Earlier last week, Fr Fernandes also concerned over the non completion of the work said that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had been grossly negligent in the protection, preservation and conservation of the Basilica.