TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: The Goa State Haj Committee on Tuesday said that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has fulfilled most of the demands presented to the government, including office allocation for the Haj Committee in the old South Goa District Collectorate.
Addressing the media, Haj Committee Chairman Mohammed Iqbal said the proposal from the Haj Committee for office admeasuring 112 sq mts in the old Collectorate has been cleared by the government. “The government has already allotted the office space and the Committee will take possession of it after renovation”, Iqbal said, while refuting false reports spread by certain vested interests.
He pointed out that the government has also sanctioned the pending bill of Rs 17.5 lakh and is awaiting clearance by the Finance Department for want of compliance of formalities, including submission of VAT certificates and registration by suppliers.
On the contentious issue of Kabrastan for the Muslim community, Iqbal said the land in question acquired for the proposed kabrastan is already in possession of the Community, adding that work on the project will commence after the Lok Sabha polls. “We have discussed the issue of kabrastan with the Chief Minister at a meeting which was attended by the Chief Town Planner. The plan is in place and work would commence after elections”, he added.
The Haj Committee Chairman exuded confidence that the Education Department will successfully resolve the school issue at Bethora. “The Haj Committee and other Muslim associations had a meeting with the Chief Minister and Industries Minister Mahadev Naik. I am confident that the school at Bethora will start. We have received assurances from the government that the matter will be amicably resolved”, Iqbal said.
