PONDA: Borim will have to wait a little longer for a crematorium as a family has claimed that the land on which the crematorium is being constructed belongs to them and the panchayat has no right to it. Ponda police on Thursday held a meeting with the panchayat, Devari family and Borim Comunidade to discuss the issue.
Sarpanch Sanjay Gavde said the comunidade had given the panchayat 1,000 sq mts of land for the crematorium and the government had approved the project. However, the Devari family stated that they owned the land for many years and even had a court order to prove it.
Comunidade president Sunil Sawkar rubbished the family’s claim and said the land belonged to the Borim comunidade. He said the land was in survey 127, and out of 47,000 sq mts, 1,000 sq mts had been allotted to the panchayat for the crematorium after following the legal process.
The issue is now sub judice and the court has fixed a hearing on August 12. Ponda DySP Sunita Sawant and PI Sudesh Naik heard the parties and asked them to wait until after the hearing to discuss the issue further.
Borim locals have complained of hardships due to the lack of a crematorium. They have to take the deceased to the Ponda or Margao crematorium for final rites. The panchayat had initiated the crematorium work at Deulwada and it was being carried out by the Public Works Department (PWD).
