The Maharashtra government will implement a 90-day programme to enhance burial ground facilities across Mumbai, Industries Minister Uday Samant said on Monday.
Responding to a calling attention motion raised by BJP member Manisha Chaudhari in the assembly regarding the Kandarpada burial ground in Dahisar, Samant said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has been directed to conduct a survey of reserved land for burial grounds under the Development Plan (DP).
"Burial grounds will be developed on these plots based on local needs. In 90 days, reservation of burial grounds and their funds will be worked out," he said.
The BMC currently manages 10 burial grounds for Christians, while 42 are under private management. For the Muslim community, 17 burial grounds are under municipal management, and 67 are privately managed.
"A dedicated committee will be formed to develop a structured framework for cremation and burial services across urban local bodies. This framework will take into account factors such as population growth, urban expansion, and available land resources. The government aims to conduct funerary services in line with guidelines issued by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)," Samant said.
Aslam Shaikh (Congress) and Raees Shaikh (Samajwadi Party) stressed the need for steps to ensure buried bodies decompose at the earliest.
Chaudhari said the lack of a disinfection process for bodies poses health risks.
In response, Samant said burial takes place in a traditional manner and no disinfection process is followed.
