MARGAO: The long pending demand of the Muslim community to have a burial ground for their dead commonly called Kabrastan in Margao is going to be resolved shortly as the government has provided a special grant of a little over Rs 15 crore to acquire land for it disclosed TCP Minister Vijai Sardessai.
Speaking to media persons, he said around 20,000 square metres of land have been identified in an area where there is a sizeable Muslim population and that the owners of the land are agreeable to giving it to the government.
“The entire grant of Rs 15,16,58,000 will be spent only on acquiring the land under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013,” he said.
The Kabrastan will come up in an area where there are two mosques existing, he said and pointed out that since the Catholics objected to the kabrastan coming up at Sonsodo close to their burial ground, the site has now been changed.
While he hesitated to name the place where the kabrastan will be located fearing that some others may raise objections, however he disclosed that the area has already been marked for Multi Utility Services in the land use map and such land is marked only in Sirvodem where there is a significant Muslim population and which has two mosques, besides another one in the next ward of Sarvodem.
Pointing out that it was the BJP-led government that was solving this long pending demand of the minority community, Vijai expressed confidence that the Muslims at least from Fatorda will not leave the Goa Forward Party as he has fulfilled the promise made to give them the kabrastan.
Appealing for cooperation from all and adding that Margao MLA Digambar Kamat has been taken into confidence over the matter, he said he expected to have the work on kabrastan start even before the code of conduct comes into force.
