No place to rest in peace for dead

Hyderabad: Burial space is rapidly shrinking in the two states with little or no space left for expansion. The problem has become acute and communities are protesting (in Rajahmundry at present) and soon, burial space will be the top agenda in election manifestos. The other factor is skyrocketing prices of grave space.

The united Andhra Pradesh government, on provision of lands for burial grounds in urban and rural areas for every community, had passed a Government Order asking district collectors to identify suitable government lands on priority basis for allocating them for burial grounds and in case no suitable government lands were available, private lands may be identified for the acquisition.

The government had also ordered protection and beautification of existing burial grounds all over the state, an advisory committee for each burial or crematorium ground and fencing as well.

Telangana is the 12th largest Indian state by population with a religious makeup of 86 per cent Hindu, 12.4 per cent Muslim, 1.2 per cent Christian and 0.4 per cent other religions.

The total population comprises 15.44 per cent Scheduled Castes and 9.34 per cent Scheduled Tribes.

“The condition of cremation or burial grounds in most Indian villages is very disheartening. People are scared to go to those places even during the day. In most villages there is no expansion of the burial grounds to match the increase in population. Many burial grounds are vulnerable to land grabbing as they are unfenced. These burial grounds are unhygienic with no electricity, water and are covered with wild plants. If not secured properly, the grave will be used for burying other bodies due to space shortage. No one can think of even going to the burial grounds for remembering the dead,” said members of the Pragati Association for Rural Development.

The group has initiated a Green Burial Ground Project (GBGP) in the Yernagudem village of West Godavari district.

Most burial grounds across the two states are filled with thorny trees named “Kanchitram Chettulu” making even walking difficult.

There is no provision for water or any other service here. At present, the ground is uneven and full of ditches. There is hardly any empty space available and this forces people to re-use tombs.

Speaking on burial grounds, the TS revenue authorities say that the government is spending about  Rs 27,000 crore on welfare programmes and the protection of burial grounds is in the list.

“An ‘Urban Day’ and ‘Rural Day’ will be observed every month. All issues would be reviewed. The CM has also ordered the construction of toilets for every household, dumping yards, burial grounds, market places and parks in urban areas.”

“The government should streamline cremations and make a cremation certificate mandatory for death certificates. The government should fence graveyards,” said Mr Rajwant Singh Gulati, in-charge of a government graveyard in Medak district.