MARGAO
With the contentious issue of kabrastan under the scanner of the High Court, the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) gave its feasibility report to the Margao Municipal Council on the proposed two sites at Sonsodo and at Khareband-Navelim area.
SGPDA Member Secretary Vinod Kumar Chandra gave the feasibility report to the Margao Municipal Chief Officer on the development and construction of the kabrastan after considering a host of aspects, including proximity to the residential/ religious/ institutional developments; gradient/ slope of the property and whether the proposed development shall attract the provisions of Section 17A of the TCP Act for cutting of hilly/ sloped land or for filling up of low-lying land; whether the properties are identified as private forest and the zoning provisions under the ODP of Margao.
While the Margao Municipal Council had acquired land admeasuring 30,000 sq mtrs at Sonsodo way back in 2011, the zone of the land in question was changed to low cost housing and orchard, the Margao Municipal Council had proposed to acquired land at Khareband-Navelim area to set up the proposed burial ground for the Muslim community.
On the Sonsodo land, the SGPDA has pointed out that the acquired land is approx 300 mts from the Sonsodo recycling plant, approx 100mts away from residential development and Christo Rai Party Hall. There is an existing cemetery touching to the north-east boundary of the acquired land.
“The plot under reference is having an area of 30,191 sq m acquired for the purpose of kabrastan located along the road leading to Curtorim behind the cemetery of Catholic community. Majority of the area is sloped land, however part of the property has a lesser slope. Accordingly, the department has granted approval for cutting of hilly land only part of the area having permissible gradient for development of road and few structures such as toilet, vazukhana, caretaker house, prayer house to the office of Assistant Engineer of Division VI, PWD, Margao vide letter no. SGPDA/5665/1779/15 -16 dated 11-02-2016,” the report stated.
The SGPDA member secretary stated that part of the property is within a developable slope where the permission for cutting and filling has been granted. Remaining part of the property has a slope more than 25 per cent where the development is not permitted as per regulations.
On the question whether the properties are identified as private forests, the feasibility report stated that the property is identified as a private forest as per list of perspective survey numbers identified by South Goa Forest Division Committee. Chalta no. 1(part) of PTS no. 49 and Chalta no. 1 of PTS no. 50 is identified as perspective private forest. The report, however, said which part of the property is identified as private forest is not available with the Authority.
On zoning of the Sonsodo land, the report stated that as per the Outline Development Plan 2028 for Margao of Planning Area, the acquired area earmarked as partly public/ semi-public (for electrical substation), partly residential zone for low cost housing and partly natural reserve/ orchard zone (A-2).
REPORT ON KHAREBAND-NAVELIM LAND
The feasibility report stated that part area of proposed acquisition was touching the residential commercial development. There were many residential houses across the rivulet within 100 mtrs.
On the nature of the land proposed to be acquired, the report stated that the Survey No. 203/1 and Nil. Sy. No. 203/4 is a low-lying area, required filling permission under Section 17A of the TCP Act, adding that section 17A permission is required for filling of low-lying land.
“Most of the property is low-lying paddy fields. Burial ground is not permitted in the institution zone as per Goa Land Development & Building Construction Regulations 2010. Use permissible as per RPG 2021. No development other than agriculture is permitted in a paddy field zone. However, road, electrical lines are permitted,” the report said, adding ‘any other infrastructure can be permitted on special ground if there is no other alternative’. The report further said that burial grounds are permitted in an orchard zone.
The report stated that the SGPDA had received objections to the proposed burial ground from residents of Shirvodem, Navelim, Margao. “They have stated that both the banks of River Sal are densely populated. There are premium residential projects on the west of the river in Benaulim village. The area is eco sensitive and water catchment area, low-lying paddy fields and affected by CRZ, thereby objections from Haji Waris and 19 others stating illegalities in land deeds, the report further stated.
