Margao: Hundreds of parishioners of Our Lady of Rosary Church on Sunday rallied behind the church authorities in support of the construction of the extension block for the Rosary Higher Secondary School.
A meeting was held at the bandstand near the church to address what parishioners described as false information being spread through a series of videos regarding the project.
Citizen Russel Coutinho, presenting the facts, said the extension block was planned after the higher secondary principal wrote to the confraria highlighting the need for additional classrooms in compliance with the National Education Policy, which requires classes to be completed during the morning session.
He said that after this, the confraria initiated the process for constructing the new block through consultations and kept a 15-day window open last April for objections and suggestions from villagers. Only one citizen filed objections but later declined a hearing to discuss them.
Coutinho said all requisite permissions for the project were obtained from the Town and Country Planning Department, Health Department, Panchayat, and the Bishop’s Palace.
“No additional students will be admitted. Existing students will be shifted to the new block. The building is coming up on the former parking space, which could accommodate only 15 cars,” said Coutinho.
He refuted allegations that the project would worsen parking problems, saying the new underground parking has space for 40 cars for faculty use.
Other parishioners warned that rumour-mongering should stop immediately, failing which action would be taken as per provisions of the law. The parishioners unanimously expressed support for the church authorities to proceed with the construction.
