PANJIM: The Director of Municipal Administration (DMA), Raju Gawas, on Thursday as an interim measure suspended the revocation order of Margao Municipal Council (MMC) issued against the order reserving burial/cremation place for persons not professing any faith, pending disposal of the matter.
“The MMC by its earlier orders stated that as per the Municipality Act, 1968, under Section 322A read with schedule X and Sections 246, 248 and 249, it is a statutory obligation of each municipal council to provide last rite facilities,” said Advocate Satish Sonak.
As a matter of top priority it was to reserve a portion of land for any person not professing any faith, he said.
He added, “MMC in its meeting held on 19/04/2016 unanimously resolved to make arrangement of some portion of the existing burial or crematorium ground to any person professing any faith or arrange for separate common burial ground.”
“Subsequently, MMC issued order an dated 03/10/2016 stating that orders of 16/08/2016 and 16/09/2016 are withdrawn with immediate effect, but now in view of DMA order dated 01/12/2016 passed in application under section 292 and 293 (1) and 297(1) of the Goa Municipalities Act 1968, the MMC earlier orders dated 16/08/2016 and 16/09/2016 are restored,” he said
However, Sonak on behalf of the applicant, had contended before DMA that although under Section 246 of the Municipalities Act the council is required to provide cremation and burial grounds, MMC has persistently defaulted in discharging its statutory duty.
Meanwhile, DMA had earlier, on common direction to all municipalities sent letters to various burial grounds custodians to reserve burial place for persons not professing any faith, however the order was vehemently opposed by residents of Margao, subsequently forcing MMC to revoke the order sent to the institutions.
