MARGAO
In an interesting development on the Sonsodo kabrastan (Muslim burial ground), the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) has said that plans for the kabrastan at Sonsodo have not been finalised since the approach road for the land proposed for the burial ground is still not finalised.
Muslim leader Abdul Matin Carol has wondered how the plan for the Sonsodo kabrastan is still not finalised when the land admeasuring 30,000 square metres was acquired way back in 2011.
Abdul Matin had sought information on the question of the approach road for the property acquired by the Margao Municipal Council for the proposed kabrastan. In reply, Hussain Shah Muzawar, Sr Project Engineer/Public Information Officer, GSUDA, stated that the matter is still pending in the High Court, while further stating that the approach road for the land proposed for the kabrastan is still not finalised. “Hence, plans for the kabrastan have not been finalised. As such, this office does not have any details to furnish on the plan,” he added.
Abdul Matin, however, demanded to know how the kabrastan plan is still not finalised when the land at Sonsodo was acquired by the MMC in the year 2011. “We are in 2025 now, and still the plan is not ready. It sounds surprising. I had asked GSUDA for specific details of the kabrastan as regards the 2,500 sq. m of land that can be developed for the kabrastan and the number of graves that will come up on the acquired land and at what gradient,” he said.
He further stated that he had sought information on the parking space that will be made available for vehicular parking on the acquired land, given that the consultant has stated in his report that only 2,500 square metres of the total 30,000 square metres can be developed as per the TCP rules.
The kabrastan issue has been hanging fire for the last 14 years since the Margao Municipal Council acquired the land in 2011.
