MARGAO
Looking at the significant Muslim vote bank and wary of the strong local sentiments on the kabrastan issue, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai and his Margao counterpart Digambar Kamat treaded a cautious path.
The two favour the burial ground, while at the same time offered to redress the concerns and grievances raised by the locals.
Both Vijai and Digambar maintained that the issue should not be politicized, but looked at from a humanitarian angle. Both insisted that every community needs a decent burial ground.
However, taking note of the strong local sentiments against the kabrastan coming up at Sirvodem, the duo underscored the need to address the concerns of the local residents on the question of filling of low-lying land and flooding.
A day after local residents opposed the burial ground in their backyard citing flooding, TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai said the government will take everyone into confidence before undertaking the work. He assured that the government will carefully examine the apprehensions of flooding raised by the locals of Sirvodem and work out a solution.
The TCP Minister said the authorities will obtain permission under section 17-A of the TCP Act if the land in question is low-lying, adding that due regard will be given to the issues raised by the local residents.
The TCP Minister made a fervent plea to everyone, saying the long-pending humanitarian issue should be resolved taking into account the need for a decent burial ground for every human being. “It is the duty of every government to provide decent burial grounds for all communities,” he said, adding “this issue should not be politicized. This is not the issue of politics of taking credit”.
Meanwhile, after a delegation of Sirvodem locals called on him on Tuesday morning, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat made it clear that residents of Sirvodem are not opposed to the kabrastan per se, but they have raised some issues concerning environment and flooding. “I feel that their concerns can be addressed adequately after discussions and ensure there’s no cause for any flooding,” Kamat said.
While reminding that it is the responsibility of the government to provide burial grounds for the communities, Kamat, however, said that all environment related issues can be discussed and resolved.
“The land at Sirvodem was zeroed in by the government after people opposed the kabrastan at Sosnodo. Sirvodem was shortlisted as people volunteered to part with their land. The TCP Minister had asked me on the issue and it was decided that the land in question can be put to use for the kabrastan since the area is inhabited by the Muslim community,” he added.
Underlining the need to look at the issue from a human angle, Kamat recalled that he had stood firm when opposition was brewing against the St Sebastian Church cemetery at Aquem. “There was pressure on me not to go ahead with the cemetery, but I looked at the issue from a human angle,” he said, while emphasizing the need to resolve the kabrastan issue plaguing he Muslim community for decades.
