MARGAO
Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco, however, has held out a promise for the small Christian sects scouting for space in Margao and the city outskirts to bury the dead. The three-time MLA has suggested that the old cemetery at the Leprosy hospital at Macazana in Curtorim constituency can be put to use after renovation for the benefit of people professing other religious faiths.
“I am of the opinion that the demand for burial grounds of these small communities is genuine. You cannot make them transport the mortal remains of the dead to Vasco just because there’s no burial ground in Margao or round the city outskirts,” Reginaldo said.
Replying to a question, Reginaldo pointed out that he had discussed the matter with Priests and is open for further discussion on the issue. “Since the old cemetery at the Leprosy hospital premises is no longer in use, I feel it can be put to use for these small communities facing hardships for want of burial grounds,” he added.
In the absence of a burial ground in Margao or Salcete, members of the small Christian sects have no option than to transport the dead to Vasco for the last rites. Their plea to have a burial ground of their own has been pending with the Margao Municipal Council over the years. Though the MMC had been prompt in acquiring land admeasuring 30,000 sq mts at Sonsodo to set up a burial ground for the Muslim community, the civic body had failed to address the concerns of the these small religious groups.
Director of Municipal Administration’s ruling, setting aside the order of the Margao Municipal Council withdrawing an order which had last year mandated the management of cemeteries to make provision in their existing burial grounds for people of other or no faith has brought the civic body into sharp focus. It has also raised a pertinent question whether the Margao Municipality can insist on private institutions managing private burial and cremation grounds to make room for other religious faiths to bury their dead.
