The historic St Anthony’s Chapel alongside the NH66 highway at Socorro which was demolished on Monday.
PORVORIM
A small historic St Anthony’s Chapel alongside the NH66 highway near the Dr Antonio Pinto do Rosario Hospital in Socorro was demolished on Monday morning, as part of ongoing construction work on the elevated corridor in Porvorim.
Efforts are now underway to locate a site to rebuild the St Anthony’s Chapel.
A plaque at the St Anthony’s Chapel, locally known as the Kasnichem Kopel, stated that the Chapel was built in 1558 when the first Christians of Porvorim were baptised by the Franciscan missionaries.
Devotees who went to lit candles on Tuesday were surprised to see the Chapel demolished.
Some devotees were regularly seen praying and used to light candles at the Chapel. Nearby parishioners would also pray in the chapel every Tuesday.
When contacted, Fr Urbino Monteiro, a retired priest who lives in the area, stated that the demolition of the St Anthony’s Chapel, which is located close to the Our Lady of Candelaria Chapel, had been inevitable and that, the Catholic community in the locality had been aware of the situation.
“We knew it (demolition) would happen some day as traffic began to increase along the highway. For several years, there had been plans to widen the existing highway and the demolition of the Chapel had been anticipated,” said Fr Monteiro.
“The elevated corridor was a recent project, but even then we were aware that the Chapel would be demolished as part of work on the elevated corridor.
“Last year, there was a meeting and the Our Lady of Candelaria Chapel committee had been informed about plans to demolish the St Anthony’s Chapel. At present, efforts are underway to identify a site to rebuild the Chapel,” added Fr Monteiro.
According to sources, National Highway officials had informed one of the members of the Chapel committee two days ago that the St Anthony’s Chapel would have to be demolished.
Sources from the Socorro panchayat said the locals had been made aware that the St Anthony’s Chapel would be demolished.
“The Chapel has been demolished to widen road,” said the source.
