High court seeks govt plan and timeline for kabrastan

Panaji: The Bombay high court has asked govt for steps it will take, along with timelines, for the setting up of burial grounds for the Muslim community. The high court is hearing a public petition concerning the lack of burial grounds for Muslims.

When the court was told that land was also acquired for the Christian community and people of no faith, advocate general Devidas Pangam told the high court that out of the 30,000 sqm of land acquired for a common burial ground at Sonsoddo, 95 per cent is inaccessible because of the steep gradient of the land. He further said govt was able to dedicate only 2,500 sqm for the setting up of burial grounds for the Muslim community.

The Margao Municipal Council (MMC) in June unanimously agreed to sign a deed of exchange for land with the Raia comunidade, which is required for an access road to the proposed kabrastan site at Sonsoddo.

A survey report revealed encroachments on the access road to the site. The previously acquired 30,000 sqm land from the comunidade for the burial ground in the survey findings highlighted complications with the access route.

The high court has repeatedly expressed disappointment over the lack of progress. Despite issuing directives in Oct 2022 for expeditious development of the kabrastan within six months, construction work has yet to start.

Community members have also expressed dissatisfaction with the House committee on kabrastan, crematoriums, and cemeteries, which was constituted last year. The committee, comprising representatives from various political parties, was tasked with establishing and regulating common burial grounds across Goa’s panchayats and municipal areas.

Last year, the high court issued a notice to the Chaplain of St Joaquim Chapel at Bornda after officials were reportedly denied access to the kabrastan site through the chapel’s cemetery gates. The project has faced several hurdles, including local opposition and terrain constraints.