MARGAO
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai’s plan to set up the kabrastan in the Khareband-Sirvodem area of Margao has further hit the road block.
The government has written a letter to the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) to return back the amount of Rs 15 crore earmarked for the acquisition of the land in question for the proposed kabrastan.
The matter was deliberated at the SGPDA meeting chaired by Chairman, MLA Wilfred D’Sa on Wednesday, wherein the PDA has decided to seek legal advice from the advisor.
After the meeting, D’Sa said that the government has written a letter to return back the amount of Rs 15 crore sanctioned to the PDA for the land acquisition at Khareband-Sirvodem area. “The amount was lying with the PDA without utilisation for several months, before we decided to deposit the amount with the EDC. Now, the government has come to take back the money,” he said, adding that the letter has been sent to the PDA lawyer for advice.
Though the kabrastan proposal at Khareband-Sirvodem area was mooted by the Fatorda MLA during his stint as TCP Minister in the Manohar Parrikar government, the proposal was kept on hold by the SGPDA following strong objections raised against the project by the local residents as well as the neighbouring villages, fearing contamination of the ground water as the project was planned right on the banks of the river Sal.
The Fatorda MLA had proposed the new site for the proposed kabrastan after residents of Fatorda, including the Borda area, opposed tooth and nail plans to set up the burial ground for the Muslim community on the acquired land admeasuring 30,000 square meters at Sonsodo.
Sources in the know further informed that the government has also initiated an inquiry into the proposal to acquire the land for the kabrastan at Khareband-Sirvodem.
