NT NETWORK
MARGAO
Hundreds of villagers of Raia and Gogol gathered at Sonsoddo on Wednesday to oppose the surveying of the land proposed for kabrastan alleging that it is located on a steep slope and that the approach road is proposed through the nearby cemetery.
There was tension for a while as the angry villagers demanded to the stop the surveying works. The surveyor from the survey department had a tough time to convince the agitators.
The agitators alleged that the proposed site has a 70 degree gradient and even the PWD had given a report that the area is not suitable for a kabrastan.
Some agitators including Xavier Fernandes and Felix Lopo said, “We had gathered to raise opposition to the surveying of the land for a kabrastan. The surveyor has measured area for a road through the existing cemetery of Catholic community. We had written to the MMC about it but there was no reply from it.”
Another agitator Joaquim Gomes said that they have no objection to the kabrastan, but there has to be proper documentation to start the works. “We demand the government to preserve the greenery around. The hill cannot be used for the burial for any of the communities,” he added.
Interestingly, Abdul Matin, who has filed a petition before the Goa Human Rights Commission, said that they had not proposed the land but it was okayed by the government. Police teams and mamlatdar rushed to the spot to maintain law and order.
