Vijayawada: The funeral of former Speaker Dr Kodela Siva Prasada Rao was held in the graveyard/crematorium which was developed by him at Narasaraopeta.
Dr Siva Prasada Rao had carried out a programme for renovation of graveyards under which over 100 Hindu, Muslim and Christian burial grounds were developed. He gave the name “Swargapuri”to the renovated Hindu crematorium at Narasarao-peta and now, his funeral was performed at Swarga-puri in Narasaraopeta on Wednesday.
In 2015 and 2016 with the aid of NGOs, he had developed Hindu cemeteries and the big cemetery at the entrance of Narasraopeta was modernised with all amenities. He constructed ritual rooms, changing rooms and provided a water facility. He also planted trees in the cemetery and in front of the entrance to give it an attractive look.
Dr Siva Prasada Rao said that during funerals people were afraid, felt sad and treated it as being inauspicious to come to graveyards and the dilapidated conditions further deepened such feeling among the people.
He added that while people came to pay homage to their loved ones every year, they hurried through these visits unable to stay for a while due to bad conditions. He stated that he wanted to change the atmosphere of graveyards turning them into a place for conducting prayers for loved ones in a peaceful manner and hence had started the development of graveyards.
TD cadres recalled that earlier people would be afraid to stay for a while in the graveyards due to “ghosts” but after the development, the graveyards had turned into a holy prayer place. They said that the graveyards of the three religions were developed in Narasarao-peta, Chilkaluripeta and Sattenapalli
