Hyderabad,July ,2008:‘The Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy said that as the population in the city expanded and there is a construction boom, graveyards are posing problems for the citizens. He said there are no adequate facilities in the existing graveyards and the conditions in these graveyards are also not satisfactory. There is no proper maintenance. The Chief Minister said graveyards should be clean and tidy.

The Chief Minister was speaking to the officials of the GHMC at a review meeting on graveyards in the GHMC area. The Chief Minister was informed that improving and developing of the existing graveyards at Amberpet, Bansilalpet and Punjagutta have been taken up by the GHMC. He was told that three acres just behind the present graveyard is being added to the existing graveyards at Punjagutta. Out of this one and half acre would be allotted to Hindus and one and half acre for Muslims. The one and half acre adjoining the existing graveyard would be allotted to Hindus and the other one and half acre for Muslims.

The Chief Minister directed that GHMC should take responsibility of the upkeep and maintenance of all graveyards. They should be kept very clean, he said. He was told that two new modern electric crematoria each will be constructed at Amberpet and Bansilalpet cremation grounds demolishing the present ones. They will have new technologies so that there will be no smell emanating from it. Compounds are already being constructed for the existing graveyards at Amberpet, Punjagutta and Bansilalpet. He instructed that these graveyards should be improved and maintained properly.

The Chief Minister was told that Government lands have been identified and earmarked for graveyards in GHMC areas, outskirts of the city within the OR limits at Serilingampally, Qutbullapur, Medchal, Shamirpet, Keesara, Ghatkesar, Hayathnagar, Saroornagar, Rajendranagar and Shamshabad. The Chief Minister direcdted that another six more places should be identified within the OR limits and should be allotted at least 10 graveyards for Hindus and three for Muslims and three for Christians as per the local population and as decided by the Collector. The GHMC will construct the graveyards with proper compound walls, greenery and all other facilities. The Chief Minister said that all these graveyards should be ready by October this year and work should be completed on a war footing.

Minister in charge of Hyderabad, Mohd. Ali Shabbir, Commissioner, GHMC, Mr. C.V.S.K.Sharma, Collectors of Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts and other officials attended the meeting.