State govt to build modern kabrastan at Sonsoddo

MARGAO: Even as the national commission for minorities (NCM) has summoned chief secretary of state Sanjay Srivastava for a third hearing over the kabrastan issue on May 24, moves are afoot to build a modern kabrastan at Sonsoddo for which land has been acquired.
Sources in the district administration confirmed that the acquisition of 31,000 sq m at Sonsoddo was over and the land has already been handed over to the Margao municipal council (MMC).
"The drawings for a modern kabrastan are being prepared by the PWD. The chief architect has already visited the site," an official source told TOI.
However, as the minority community has expressed a strong aversion to the land at Sonsoddo, it remains to be seen whether the plans for the kabrastan will pass muster.
"The NCM had granted six months time to complete the process of acquisition of land to be used as burial ground or kabrastan as per the resolution passed by the state legislative assembly in the year 1999. The respondents had agreed and had assured the commission to comply with the direction. Till date I have not received any co-operation from the office of the chief secretary or from the office of the district administration. Also no steps are being taken to strengthen and to improve the condition of the existing kabrastan," said Abdulmatin Daud Carol, general secretary, Masjid-e-Gausiya, Margao.