The Times of India            06.12.2010

PMC to acquire land for crematoriums, burial grounds

PUNE: The standing committee has ordered the civic administration to start a drive to remove encroachments and acquire lands reserved for crematoriums and burial grounds.

"There were demands from citizens for crematorium or burial grounds in nearby localities. The standing committee members discussed the matter and finally it was decided that the civic administration should acquire all land reserved for crematorium and burial grounds," said leader of the house and standing committee member Nilesh Nikam speaking to reporters recently.

Nikam added that as per the 1987 Development Plan (DP) about 50 spots located across the city are reserved for crematorium and burial grounds. "There are some crematoriums with just a 200 sq ft area and without any facilities. The existing crematoriums will be provided with all the facilities," said Nikam.

Some of the committee members also discussed about burial ground for pets in the city. While the neighbouring Pimpri-Chinchwad twin township has a pet cemetery, the PMC has yet to come up with this facility. According to the civic administration, the PMC has made provision in the budget for a burial space for animals and once a location is finalised the burial ground for pets will be ready.

The standing committee members also expressed concern over the encroachments on the land reserved for amenity spaces. Even though there were 519 reservations covering 827 ha in the city, only 35 per cent of the DP approved in 1987 has been executed till date. Reservations guarantee citizens basic facilities like schools, hospitals, opens spaces like playgrounds and gardens. However, 65 per cent of the reservations have not been developed.