Team Herald
MARGAO: Though Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai asserted that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) executed by the Margao Municipal Council with the Sunnni Jamaat-u-Muslameen to manage the Sonsoddo land would be cancelled, it is now learnt that the MoU was signed in the first place at the behest of the then government.
It may be recalled that at the meeting on September 17, 2017, Vijai had questioned the MMC for entering into a MoU with the Jamaat. However, going through the said memorandum of understanding it is clear that having decided on September 19, 2011, to hand over the land to the Jamaat, the government in a letter to the MMC dated September 30, 2011 asked it to execute an agreement to that effect.
The MoU dated December 9, 2011 has a lot of flip-flops including a violation by the Jamaat and clearly mentions that “no special place shall be reserved in any part of the burial ground for any person or family without the prior written approval of the MMC”.
Yet, the Jamaat got plans for a masjid and a caretaker’s house comprising of ground plus one floor approved by the South Goa Planning and Development Authority and the same were displayed at the September 17 meeting.
Incidentally, the MoU was signed by then Chief Officer J B Bhingui on behalf of MMC and Jamia Masjid president Mohammad Najib Saudagar on behalf of Sunni Jammat-u-Muslameen.
Former chairperson and former vice chairperson Sushila Naik and Luis Gonzago Rebello had signed the MoU as two of the four witnesses.
While the land acquisition process commenced following the notification dated August 23, 2010, the award was actually passed on May 16, 2011 wherein 30,191 sq mts of land was acquired from Sonsoddo for a burial ground for three communities.
The MoU also pointed out that MMC at its meeting on June 18, 2006 had decide to acquire the land for a burial grounds for three communities but at its meeting held on June 12, 2011, the earlier decision was amended to give the land only for the Muslim community. The MoU was to be in effect for 30 years following which it could be renewed for a further period of 30 years provided both the parties – MMC and Jamaat – agreed. While the possession of the land would be with the Jamaat, the title and ownership would be with MMC.
The Jamaat while looking after the day-to-day affairs of the kabrastan would also ensure that Muslims of all sects would be able to use the burial ground and the same would not be restricted to any particular sect.
The Jamaat was also to maintain a record of the bodies brought for burial at the place and not consider the agreement to be a lease for the land.
