Visakhapatnam: A burial ground with basic amenities is a necessity for every human being cutting across caste, creed and religion. It is a crying shame that the municipal corporation has failed to provide the bare minimum facilities at the burial grounds in the city. The city denizens allege that GVMC is spending huge chunk of money for various beautification projects, but it is least bothered about the condition of the burial grounds in the city. The deplorable condition of the burial grounds could be gauged from the fact that there are 162 burial grounds belonging to different religions in the GVMC limits spread over 72 wards, but 82 burial grounds lack water supply facilities while 71 are yet to get place for the grieving relatives to stand during the last rites. Only a few of have either borewell or tap water facilities.
“A majority of them are incomplete darkness owing to lack of lighting facilities. The burial grounds are in such a mess that it is hard to stay there for even few minutes. The administration could ask the private companies to take up developmental work of the burial grounds under their Corporate Social Responsibility fund,” said R. Ravi, a corporate employee. “As the burial grounds at other places in the city lack basic facilities, many people prefer the Waltair cemetery near GVMC office. Hence, we had to make two or three decks in one grave to accommodate the bodies. This has led to huge a land crunch in the cemetery. We have been demanding for another place, but to no avail," said Christian Cemeteries Board president George Cheedi.
Also, majority of the burial grounds lack a compound wall and thereby the lands are being encroached. People staying around the burial grounds said the GVMC officials are being apprised about the issues of the burial grounds several times, but it has fallen on deaf ears. When asked about the situation, a GVMC official said proposals for the development of the burial grounds have been given, but the funds are yet to be sanctioned.
