MARGAO: A human rights activist from Panjim has written to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, seeking his intervention to establish a burial ground for people of all faiths (and atheists) at Sonsoddo, as was originally intended, rather than a kabrastan meant for the Muslim community alone. In his letter, activist
Anthony Rodrigues claimed that the people of Margao were given an assurance about this burial ground back in 1989, and have waited three decades for the facility.
He pointed out that the Margao Municipal Council had acquired land measuring 31,000 sq mtrs for a common burial ground, but a feasibility study conducted last month revealed that only 2,500 sq mtrs was available for development at the site, and all of it was allocated for the kabrastan.
“Right now, the dead bodies of all those of no faith or other faiths are being taken for burial either to Ponda, Mapusa or Sada-Vasco,”
said Rodrigues, calling it a total injustice.
“If there are only 2,500 sq mtrs available, then 1,000 sq mtrs could be given to the kabrastan and the remaining 1,500 sqmtrs could have been given as a common burial ground which
includes all communities,” he added.
