Panaji citizens take exception to play area in crematorium-kabrastan complex

NT NETWORK

PANAJI

The crematorium and kabrastan complex coming up at St Inez and which will also include children’s park, a jogging track and open garden gym as part of the project apart from an animal shelter has upset many of the citizens of Panaji.

Many Panjimites feel that the project, which will see the last rites of Hindu, Lingayat, Muslim and Khoja communities, will be objected to by citizens as they feel nobody will visit the place for jogging or send their children to play in the park, which will be located in the vicinity of crematorium and kabrastan.

Expressing his views on the complex that is being constructed by Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA), councillor and chairman of market committee Uday Madkaikar said people usually have fear at the back of their mind when entering a crematorium and questioned why the complex is being constructed outside the city. He said that many people do not have the courage to enter a graveyard and questioned how people will allow their children in the children’s park, which will be a part of the complex.

Another citizen A Pires said, “I don’t know on what basis the Corporation of the City of Panaji gave approval to such a project with children’s park and gym in the graveyard project known as ‘Moksha.’”

Yet another citizen Audhoot Angle said that he is satisfied with the CCP providing crematorium to the citizens with all the facilities. “I am not concerned with the CCP creating a park or gym as part of the complex,” he said.

When the reporter approached some Muslim parents seeking their reaction to the proposed children’s play area and open gym in the complex, they were in for a shock when told that such recreational activities are proposed near a crematorium. They said that instead of children’s park and gym, the CCP could have clean toilets, waste bins and brightly-coloured benches in the area and plant dozens of trees and pot plants to make the area more attractive so that relatives can go there and pay homage to the departed souls.

“We definitely fear sending our children to a play area where dead bodies are buried or cremated. It’s a dead man’s place and sending our children or going ourselves along with our kids to play around such an area is always risky. There are many superstitions involving graveyard visits and creating noise around such places,” said a 33-years-old resident of Tambdi mati in St Inez.

“We visit graveyards to pay our respect to the dead. If one starts jogging or exercising near such a place and makes noise, he might suffer from some unpleasant consequences. I think the CCP should not go ahead with the plan of having open gym or children’s play area,” said another resident of St Inez.

“Though spirits are said to be able to possess anyone, children are most vulnerable. Why should I send my kids to such an area to play. No parent will like to see his or her children play near a crematorium or kabrastan,” another resident of St Inez said.

Former city mayor and presently a councillor Surendra Furtado, however, welcomed the children’s park as a part of the integrated burial and cremation ground project. “I think the children’s park is welcome near the animal shelter. I don’t know how the gym has become a part of the complex. No councillor was taken into confidence regarding the gym; all the plans were approved during my tenure as mayor. Nevertheless, I am the happiest person to see that the project is seeing light of the day. Finally, my dream project is being translated into a reality,” Furtado said.

Stating that there was nothing wrong in gym or joggers’ park coming up in the vicinity of the cremation and burial grounds, former student leader Bernabe Sapeco opined that with the advancement of science and

technology, superstition is slowing fading away. “The fear about cremation and burial grounds is usually noticed in remote areas. Today many people don’t believe in ghosts or spirits,” he said.

Nasir Agha felt that unwanted elements will utilise the complex area for illegal activities if no checks are put in place to control such activities.

President of Jama Masjid Shaikh Mustafa Kader said that after completion of the kabrastan project, the CCP should ensure that it remains with the Panaji Jama Masjid committee since certain elements may try to interfere in the kabrastan affairs.