PANAJI
The House Committee responsible for establishing and regulating common crematoriums or burial grounds for all sections of society across panchayats and municipal areas does not seem to be serious about resolving the long-standing issue.
In February, the State government constituted the Committee under Law Minister Alexio Sequeira with directions to submit its report in the next session of the Assembly -- the ensuing monsoon session slated to begin on Monday.
The committee -- represented by one MLA each from BJP, Congress, Goa Forward Party, Aam Aadmi Party, MGP and RGP and one Independent MLA -- was also tasked with deliberating on the need for related legislation.
Five months down the line, the Committee has convened just once clearly indicating it is unlikely to submit the final report.
"It doesn’t seem the Law Minister is serious about the laws or the environment. Goa is getting overpopulated and we need sufficient space for crematoriums and burial grounds across all sections of society.
However, the government only talks and rarely executes. We have seen this trend since 2022…so many assurances are unfulfilled,” AAP MLA Venzy Viegas, one of the members on the panel, said speaking to The Goan.
RG MLA Viresh Borkar, another Committee member, stated that after the first meeting in March, no members heard about a follow-up meeting.
“In the first meeting, panchayats and municipal bodies were directed to report on all crematoriums in their areas and the number needed. We were hoping for a second meeting soon but nothing has happened. Many requests are pending with the government including requirements in my constituency. We want it to expedite the meeting," Borkar said.
With the issue yet unresolved, the issue is expected to be raised in the upcoming session.
It was BJP MLA Nilesh Cabral and Independent MLA Chandrakant Shetye who moved a private member resolution demanding a common or dedicated site for crematorium grounds, in February followed by the setting up of the Committee.
Cabral had recommended that the government enact Legislation, in a time-bound manner and in any case not later than six months.
“The Government has to acquire land and set up facilities at the earliest and hand them over to local self-government bodies for the benefit of all sections of society as in many places in Goa people are still facing grave difficulties in conducting final rites of the deceased in a dignified manner,” he was quoted as saying.
