the goan I network
MARGAO
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai’s decision to shift the kabrastan for the Muslim community from his constituency to Sirvodem in Margao during his stint as TCP Minister, has hit a road block with the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) constituting a panel to study the contentious issue.
At the PDA meeting presided by Chairman, MLA Wilfred D’Sa on Thursday, the PDA took the major decision to constitute the committee comprising of the PDA Chairman, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat and other members. The committee is not only expected to go into the objections raised by the residents of Sirvodem, but the host of objections raised by the village panchayats of Nuvem, Navelim, Benaulim and Telaulim over the kabrastan coming up in the low-lying area adjoining the river Sal.
The PDA chairman further said that the PDA will also carry out the study over the acquisition of the low-lying property, and whether the rate fixed by the authorities conforms to the value of the property in question on the ground.
To a question, D’Sa said the PDA will give hearings to the residents of Sirvodem, who have raised questions over the setting up of the burial grounds in the ecologically fragile low-lying areas along the river Sal stretch.
The PDA decision comes after a delegation of the residents of Sirvodem led by Xavier Fernandes and others called on the PDA chairman before
the authority meeting on Thursday.
After discussing the issue with the PDA chairman, Xavier told waiting media persons outside the office that residents have made a fervent plea to the new PDA chairman not to bulldose and thrust the kabrastan project on the residents of Sirvodem.
“We had in the past submitted our memorandum to the new PDA chairman listing our objections to the kabrastan in the densely populated locality and on the banks of the river Sal. We have pointed out to the PDA that the land identified for the kabrastan is not at all suited for the burial grounds as the low-lying area is flood prone and ecologically sensitive,”
he said.
To another question, Xavier said the PDA chairman has given the residents a patient hearing and has assured to hear them before taking a call on the project.
Officials in the know pointed out that the kabrastan project has hit a block with today’s decision of the SGPDA as the hearing and the proposed study by the committee may take some time.
Meanwhile, the SGPDA on Thursday cleared a number of development permissions, while keeping on hold files and rejecting a couple of
applications.
The PDA also decided to call the contractor who was awarded the tender to renovate the retail fish market on the lines of the Dubai fish market.
