The Times of India 29.06.2010
Sonsoddo land for burial ground: MMC
MARGAO: The city fathers, at a meeting of the MMC held on Monday, appeared to have conflicting views over the identification of land for acquisition to set up burial grounds in the city.
They finally adopted a resolution that the 30,000 odd sq m of land at Sonsoddo be acquired for burial grounds, while the 99,000 odd sq m of land at Aquem, which was earlier earmarked, be taken into possession by the MMC for community welfare projects.
The issue assumed significance in view of the suggestions made by chief minister Digambar Kamat to the MMC recently that the Sonsoddo land be identified by the MMC for burial grounds.
At the meeting held on Monday, councillors were divided over the choice of site, with some insisting that the MMC stick to its earlier resolution that had favoured the 99,000 odd sq m of land at Aquem (behind Pandav chapel), and several pushing for the Sonsoddo land.
Ex-chairperson Jhonson Fernandes, expressing his views, strongly pitched for the Aquem land for the setting up of burial grounds for all three communities, while Ciriaca Rodrigues suggested that the church authorities be taken into confidence before approving the Sonsoddo site, as the church hall lies in the vicinity.
MMC chairperson Savio Coutinho said that considering complaints from certain quarters that the Aquem land had been illegally encroached upon, the same be proposed to be acquired by the MMC, while the proposal for a kabrastan at Sonsoddo be forwarded to the collector.
They finally adopted a resolution that the 30,000 odd sq m of land at Sonsoddo be acquired for burial grounds, while the 99,000 odd sq m of land at Aquem, which was earlier earmarked, be taken into possession by the MMC for community welfare projects.
The issue assumed significance in view of the suggestions made by chief minister Digambar Kamat to the MMC recently that the Sonsoddo land be identified by the MMC for burial grounds.
At the meeting held on Monday, councillors were divided over the choice of site, with some insisting that the MMC stick to its earlier resolution that had favoured the 99,000 odd sq m of land at Aquem (behind Pandav chapel), and several pushing for the Sonsoddo land.
Ex-chairperson Jhonson Fernandes, expressing his views, strongly pitched for the Aquem land for the setting up of burial grounds for all three communities, while Ciriaca Rodrigues suggested that the church authorities be taken into confidence before approving the Sonsoddo site, as the church hall lies in the vicinity.
MMC chairperson Savio Coutinho said that considering complaints from certain quarters that the Aquem land had been illegally encroached upon, the same be proposed to be acquired by the MMC, while the proposal for a kabrastan at Sonsoddo be forwarded to the collector.
