The Hindu 02.09.2010
GHMC takes over 230 burial grounds
Special Correspondent
Plan to develop and manage burial grounds under Fund Your City (FYC) programme finalised
Information regarding allegiance of burial grounds to religious groups to be found out
HYDERABAD: The GHMC has taken possession of 230-odd burial grounds from the 990 identified within its geographical limits from the revenue departments of the Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy District Collectorates.
This was done after enumerating encroachments in the site maps and also court cases if any to take further steps to develop and protect them. Following Chief Minister K. Rosaiah’s directions, the Municipal Corporation is slated to take possession of all the sites in phases once clear boundaries are.
A perspective plan to develop and manage them under Fund Your City (FYC) programme has been finalised with powers decentralised to respective Zonal Commissioners. But, before that information regarding the allegiance of the burial grounds to various religious groups has to be found out.
“For most burial grounds, there is no proper information pertaining to which religious groups were using or who was maintaining them. We are trying to enlist the support of local communities and noted non-governmental organisations for the purpose and later for maintenance too,” said Additional Commissioner (Health & Sanitation) S. Aleem Basha.
The Zonal Commissioners were directed to supervise the process and ensure surveyor sketches were taken from the Tahsildars concerned. Database details like extent of land, existing caretaker committees, current infrastructure, user charges, etc., is being listed.
While there are 699 burial grounds in seven municipal circles coming under Hyderabad Collectorate, 291 are in 12 other circles under R.R. Collectorate.
Mr. Basha said an Expression of Interest (EoI) would be floated soon inviting various organisations including residential welfare associations for maintaining them for an initial period of five years. A committee headed by ZC, SE, CP, DC and AMOH of the area would evaluate the EoIs received.
Selected organisations are supposed to build elevated burning platforms, bathrooms, pavilion, greenery, storage room, hall, rest rooms, parking area, etc. They have to bear the entire cost of operations and maintenance and can only collect user charges on a no- profit, no-loss basis.
But no activity including advertisements would be permitted within the premises, he added.
