Hyderabad: Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has completed construction of three model graveyards during the current financial year out of total nine at an estimated cost of Rs 21.77 crore. In addition, 107 maintenance works have been taken up involving Rs 32.76 crore. Only 17 of them have been completed at an expenditure of Rs 6.53 crore.
The corporation has developed new graveyards at Shivrampally, Devuni Kunta, Jamali Kunta, Vinayaknagar, Domalguda, Amberpet, Balkampet, Punjagutta, Gopannapally, Taranagar, Miyapur, JP Colony, Moosapet, Gowthamnagar, Gandhinagar, Ram Reddy Nagar, Machabollaram, and SP Nagar. Four more graveyards / burial grounds are scheduled to be taken up at a sanctioned project cost of Rs 93 crore at Sahebnagar near Vanasthalipuram, Subhashnagar and Padmanagar in Quthbullapur, and Rajiv Gandhi Nagar at Gajularamaram.
GHMC is developing these graveyards with several facilities, such as compound wall, cremation platforms, ash storage, prayer hall, waiting area and sitting room, besides pathways, office rooms, wash areas, electrification, plantation and landscaping. During Phase I, 24 model graveyards had been sanctioned in 2015-16 with an outlay of Rs 24.13 crore. All of them have been completed. Under Phase II are nine model graveyards involving an expenditure of Rs 21.77 crore. Of them, three have been completed and six are under various stages of completion.
It is estimated that the city has around 1,000 graveyards belonging to all faiths. Though it is GHMC's responsibility to maintain them, several are being managed privately. "Because religion is involved, we do not interfere unless asked to. We oblige whenever a request comes for any facility, such as borewell or clearing of undergrowth," a civic body official said.
As part of regular maintenance, the corporation has taken up 55 works costing Rs 10.07 during 2020-21 and 107 works involving an expenditure of Rs 32.76 crore. Of the 107 works, a mere 17 have been completed spending Rs 6.53 crore. Remaining works are under various stages of completion, an official stated.
