the goan I network
MARGAO
As Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has approved the Margao kabrastan project mooted by TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai at an estimated cost of Rs 14.5 crore, but the very location of the proposed burial ground for the Muslim community is shrouded in mystery.
In fact, while the government has agreed to acquire land for the proposed kabrastan under the TCP head, as per the TCP Minister’s request, the location of the burial has been kept under wraps till date by the powers that be.
As news of the government’s decision to accord financial sanction amounting to Rs 14.5 crore spread on Thursday evening, the petitioner before the National Commission for the Minorities, Abdulmatin Carol sought to know whether the amount would be spent on the development of the existing land acquired at Sonsodo for kabrastan or whether the amount will be spent on acquiring land in Margao for the purpose of setting up the burial ground.
“There’s confusion about the government decision. it is not clear whether the government wants to develop the existing land admeasuring at Sonsodo for the kabrastan or whether plans are afoot to acquire land at Margao for the purpose,” Abdulmatin demanded to know, adding ‘if the government has decided to acquire new land at Margao, why is the location made a closely guarded secret’.
Abdulmatin, who had taken the issue of the absence of the kabrastan for the Muslim community right before the National Commission for the Minorities, said he has consulted his lawyers how to go about making the government set up the burial ground for the minority community.
When contacted, TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai said the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has given his nod to acquire land for the proposed kabrastan in Margao at an estimated cost of Rs 14.5 crore.
“The location of land in question will be unveiled at the right time. The project will be cleared in the supplementary demands in the ensuing Assembly session,” Sardesai said, adding that he has seriously taken up the responsibility to build a kabrastan for the Muslim community.
Land admeasuring 30,000 square meters was acquired by the Congress-led government headed by then Chief Minister Digambar Kamat at Sonsodo in 2011 on the eve of the 2012 Assembly election. The area, however, could not be developed for the intended purpose following widespread protests from the residents in Borda in Fatorda constituency and the adjourning village of Raia as the citizens opposed hill cutting to pave way for the burial ground.
The location of the kabrastan close to the existing cemetery was opposed by the residents, saying that the burial grounds of two religious communities should not co-exist as it may throw up problems for the future.
Having initially supported the proposal to develop the Sonsodo land for the kabrastan, the TCP Minister later developed cold feet as the agitation against the proposed kabrastan threatens to spread across Fatorda constituency, prompting to look out for land for the burial grounds in Margao.
apprehensions raised
The petitioner seeks to know whether the amount would be spent on the development of the existing land acquired at Sonsodo for kabrastan or whether the amount will be spent on acquiring land in Margao for the purpose of setting up the burial ground
The petitioner says if the government has decided to acquire new land at Margao, why is the location made a closely guarded secret’
