PANAJI
The Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) on Tuesday recommended that 1,500 sq mtrs of land in Survey No. 8/0 of Bhati Village, Sanguem, be handed over to the Village Panchayat (VP) for the construction of a cremation ground within 60 days.
The recommendation comes after a complaint filed by Ketan Desai of Sanguem on July 16, 2021, stating that land had been earmarked for a cremation ground at Congarem-Bhati village. Still, no steps had been taken to initiate a survey or demarcation.
During the hearing, the GHRC called for responses from the South Goa Collector, Director of Panchayats (DoP), Range Forest Officer (RFO), Sanguem and Bhati VP Secretary.
In a reply dated August 24, 2021, the Collector submitted that the land under Survey No. 8/0 was in the possession of the Forest Department and that forest officials were not allowing villagers to use the property for burials.
The DoP, in its response dated December 17, 2021, stated that the VP had passed a resolution on January 15, 2021, proposing the construction of a crematorium on the same land and had also forwarded the proposal to the Revenue Department. The Panchayat had been awaiting land allotment since then.
The GHRC did not receive any replies from the RFO or the Panchayat Secretary, despite being added as respondents in April 2024.
After hearing the complainant and Forest Officer V M Gaonkar, the Commission’s inquiry report on Tuesday observed that the resolution passed by the Panchayat in January 2021 remained unimplemented for over three years.
“The resolution must be enforced to uphold the human rights of the villagers of Bhati,” the Bench of Acting Chairperson Desmond D’Costa and Member Pramod Kamat recommended.
The Commission has further directed the Collector, DoP and RFO to ensure that the land is made available to the Panchayat for the construction of the cremation ground and has sought action-taken reports within 60 days.
