No adoption of Churches without NOC: Church

Panaji: Goa Church has said that the monuments which are owned by them will not be allowed to be adopted under “Adopt a Heritage Scheme” unless “No Objection Certificate” has been issued by them.

State Archives and Archeology minister Vijai Sardesai had held a meeting of Church  and government officials on May 7 to clear the apprehensions surrounding this scheme. Six monuments from the state including two Churches – Basilica of Bom Jesus and Se Cathedral – both situated at Old Goa near here are listed in the scheme.

During the discussion that followed, the representatives of the Archdiocese pointed out that the Church, being the owner of the Catholic religious sites in Old Goa, cannot be ignored or excluded from any MOUs  that may be eventually drawn with regard to the provision of the aforesaid peripheral infrastructures or amenities. On these conditions, the church representatives agreed with the rest of the participants that the proposed “Adopt a Heritage Scheme” should not be rejected. 

 It was also agreed that the Archdiocese, as the owner of the monuments, would draw up an “N.O.C.” listing all the conditions/restrictions/safeguards which it might deem fit in each case. Therefore, no intervention at the selected church sites would be allowed without the consent of the Diocesan Authority, which would draw up this N.O.C. after due consultation at various levels. It was also agreed that the Archdiocese would also figure in the proposed  “Monument Committee,” which  would, among other things,  monitor the execution of the said N.O.C. 

Goa Church spokesman Fr J Loiola Pereira and Fr Valerino Vaz in a joint statement issued has said that during the meeting chaired by Sardesai the “Adopt a Heritage Scheme” was explained and put forward for discussion.

“The Chief Secretary explained that the Scheme envisages to enhance the cultural importance of the heritage site and to provide world class tourist facilities at the various sites across the country,” the statement adds.

“This would include basic (and, wherever needed, advanced) amenities, illumination, surveillance, etc. with safety and security to visitors, “within permissible guidelines of the Archeological survey of india,” they have said.

Corporates and individuals, to be called “Monument Mitras” would be invited to provide peripheral facilities to the visitors, without touching the core of the monument or carrying out any conservation or restoration works, which would remain vested with the A.S.I. or the State Archaeology Department as the case may be, the statement reads. 

“It was also agreed that the Archdiocese, as the owner of the monuments, would draw up an “N.O.C.” listing all the conditions/restrictions/safeguards which it might deem fit in each case,” the statement reads.

“Therefore, no intervention at the selected church sites would be allowed without the consent of the Diocesan Authority, which would draw up this N.O.C. after due consultation at various levels. It was also agreed that the Archdiocese would also figure in the proposed  “Monument Committee,” which  would, among other things,  monitor the execution of the said N.O.C,” it added.