Commissioner for NRI Affairs has said that there is urgent need for restoration of the priceless murals on the walls of the Rachol seminary which he said will be completely destroyed unless immediate steps are taken to restore them.

Mr Faleiro urged the INTACH to continue to render its invaluable services for protection of Goan architectural and artistic heritage. INTACH and the Archeological Survey he said may take up this work with a great sense of urgency.

Mr Falerio was speaking  after inaugurating “World heritage Week” jointly organized by Archeological  Survey of India, Goa Circle and INTACH, New Delhi held at St. Anne’s Church Santan, Telaulim, today.

The Commissioner for NRI Affairs further said that the Church of St. Ann’s is situated in the village of Telaulim in the outskirts of Old Goa and it was the retreat for the elite of the time. Mr. Faleiro  said that the Church of St. Ann’s is the  most majestic of the churches of Goa and the most exquisite and the largest surviving monument of its kind in Asia.

He said that the architect of the of the Church of Santana was probably a Goan, Fr. Francisco do Rego (c-1635-86) with the decline and abandonment of Old Goa in the 18th century and the shifting of the city of Panaji, the village of Telaulim declined considerably being deserted by its population. He said that the Church of St. Ann fell into disrepair. It is only now that church is being restored by INTACH (Indian Natioanl Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) and the Department of Archeology and Archives fo the Government of Goa. He congratulated INTACH and the Government of Goa for undertaking this massive work of heritage conservation.

Speaking on the occasion Archbishop Rev. Filipe Neri Ferrao congratulated the organizers for celebrating the “World Heritage Week” at St. Ann’s Church, Talauli and emphasized the need to sensitize the people about the importance of restoration of heritage.

Local MLA Mr Francisco Silvera said that the renovation of the St. Ann’s church was the long pending demand of the local people as the Church was in disrepair for several years. He thanked the Government initiative of taking up the restoration work.

Prof. R. C. Agarwal, Principal Director of Architectural  heritage Division  explained the objective behind the celebration. He said restoration such cultural monuments means restoration of our identity.