MARGAO
In a major development ahead of the ensuing Assembly polls, the government has lodged its objection to the change in zone of the Sonsodo land, which was acquired for kabrastan around a decade ago, but was changed for low-cost housing and orchard zone in the 2028 Outline Development plan (ODP) for Margao.
Even as the Congress and Goa Forward Party-backed Margao Municipal Council is yet to take a stand on the renewed demands of the Muslim community to re-notify the Sonsodo land for kabrastan, Director of Urban Development Gurudas Pilarnekar has filed an objection to the PDA’s decision to change zone of the Sonsodo land.
The Urban Development Director told The Goan that he has told the MMC Chief Officer to place the contentious matter before the council since the High Court is seized of the matter. “My office has lodged objection to the SGPDA objecting to the change in zone of the Sonsodo land, which was acquired for kabrastan to low-cost housing. Since the land was acquired for the specific purpose of setting up the burial grounds, I have decided to lodge objection to the ODP showing the land as low-cost housing and orchard land”, Pilarnekar told The Goan.
When pointed out that the MMC is yet to take a call on the sensitive matter, Pilarnekar said the MMC should know the matter is pending in the High Court. “The government has taken a stand in the HC pertaining to the PIL stating that the acquired land at Sonsodo should be retained for Kabrastan. The MMC CO has been told to take necessary action since the court is seized of the matter,” he added.
Sources said the Director, Urban Development, has taken the decision based on representations received from the Muslim community to re-notify the Sonsodo land for kabrastan.
Incidentally, the decision comes against the backdrop of last week’s agitation in the city in support of the kabrastan, following which Chief Minister PramodSawant had handed out a categorical assurance to a delegation led by Deputy Chief Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar and others that the zone will be re-notified within a month.
The zone of the acquired land at Sonsodo was changed in the 2028 Margao ODP three years ago in 2019 on the premise that the MMC has opted for alternate land at Sirvodem-Khareband which, however, is yet to become a reality to date.
Interestingly, MMC CO has questioned how the civic body and the SGPDA changed the zone of the Sonsodo land, when the alternate land at Sirvodem-Khareband is non-existent. The same has still neither been acquired nor procured by the civic body.
Land for the kabrastan at Sonsodo was acquired by the MMC exactly a decade ago in 2011 on the eve of the 2012 Assembly electionS when Margao MLA Digambar Kamat was the Chief Minister. The acquired land was handed over to the Muslim body, Jamia Masjid, Malbhat, for maintenance and development, but the burial ground is yet to see the light of day to date.
