The Margao kabrastan face off needs to be handled sensitively

MARGAO: Looking at the way the MMC plans to take up the project, the BIG Q is whether it will serve the purpose of the community living in 38 villages and towns of South Goa.

Early in the year, it seemed that the Kabrastan matter was all for a solution, however, minor issues were raised regarding the plot and the boundaries.

As time went by, the matter hit rough weather and it seemed that the project would be grounded. The issue has now reached the Chief Minister’s office. But there is enough heartburn and opposition over the land use. Herald digs up past reports and incidents to see the status of the project.

The most important questions which have been 

raised are against the use of the land for burial, eco-sensitivity of the area, religious sentiments attached and also of the alleged low reward given to the land loser. 

The villagers of Raia have alleged that the land is not suitable for a burial ground as it is an eco-sensitive patch and the villagers claim that it is the only piece of land nearby which has a green cover and is host to lot of flora and fauna. They claim that razing the ground will worsen the climate around. As far as the eco-sensitivity is concerned, the forest had marked almost half the land as private forest. The Chief Minister, in his meeting recently, said that he will seek permissions for the land from the Centre.

There has been yet another argument of the land being a steep gradient and was not suitable for having a burial ground. It may be recalled that the Town and Country Planning Department in 2016 had given special permissions for allowing hill cutting of the said land specifically for the construction of Kabrastan.

The villagers also have a contention that there may be religious issues arising due to use of speaker and also due parallel burial grounds of Catholics and Muslims. Father Maverick Fernandes, after the meeting speaking on the religious issues made a remark, which has been praised by several sections that there has been harmonious coexistence of religions in Goa and parallel burial grounds won’t affect the peace of the society.

There have been allegations that the earlier tenant of the land has got a very little compensation for the 16,091 sq mts land lost to acquisition. The people of the village say that the land needs to be given back to the tenants and they can grow cashews and other crops there.

TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai has, however, clarified that land once acquired can’t be reverted back and hence that is not a possibility. “The Government acquired the land and people remained quiet which resulted in this issue,” the TCP Minister said.

The latest issue regarding the kabrastan is that of people from which area and who will use this land for burial. MMC and the TCP Minister says that this land will now be maintained by MMC and will be used by Margao and Fatorda residents. The present burial ground in Pajifond is being used by almost 38 villages of South Goa and stopping these villages from this land will leave them high and dry.

The petitioner of National Minorities Commission over the kabrastan issue, Matin Carol, speaking to Herald said, “The 10th Schedule of the Constitution mandates the Municipality to give the land for burial ground. There has been a discussion on for the same for years together without any end.”