Ajit Karn
A proposal to demolish a centuries-old Catholic chapel in Daman for the expansion of a football field has sparked protests. A group of Catholic priests and community members have written to the president of the Daman municipality, Sonal Patel, requesting that the decision to demolish the Chapel of Our Lady of Angustias be reconsidered.
Patel stated that the municipality owns the land where the expansion is planned and that the Union Territory administration, not the corporation, is responsible for the redesign.
An official stated that a final decision will be made only after extensive consultations. The issue arose after the municipality presented the proposal for the expansion of the football field to the elected wing of the civic body.
A Trinamool Congress member of parliament criticised the proposed demolition in a tweet on Sunday. “Stop the insensitive politicians and bureaucrats of Daman from demolishing the 500-year-old Our Lady of Augustus Church in order to build a football field.” Its intricate carvings reflect India’s artistic traditions. Heritage is neither Catholic nor Hindu; it is India’s soul, he tweeted.
Arun Gupta, chief executive officer of the Daman municipal corporation, stated that an architectural firm hired for the redevelopment work conceived the proposal. The purpose of the redevelopment is to introduce more sports, such as badminton and boxing, and to upgrade the facility so that it can host national-level competitions.
He stated that a social impact assessment will be conducted and the local community will be consulted prior to the land acquisition process.
A councillor, Pramod Rana, stated that the chapel is a historical structure with religious connotations, and thus there is opposition. He stated that the company will communicate with the Christian community.
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Approximately two months ago, according to Rana, the elected wing of the civic organisation passed a resolution stating that the demolition would not occur without proper consultation.
A group of Christians also delivered a memorandum to all elected councillors requesting that the demolition be halted.
