STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The Athgaon Kabarsthan in the city, spread over 70 bighas of land, has around 2.5 lakh graves. Almost 300 years old, this burial place is likely to face a shortage of space in the near future.
Athgaon Kabarsthan Committee assistant secretary Murtaza Islam said that low-lying areas in the burial place were being filled up so that more land is available to dig up graves. He said that around 10 bighas of land within the Kabarsthan premises had been illegally encroached upon by shops and factories. "They have not been authorized by the Athgaon Kabarsthan Committee and they do not pay any rent to the committee. We had written a letter to the Kamrup (metro) Deputy Commissioner to apprise him of the situation. In 2018, we also approached the Gauhati High Court. But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the case has not progressed. We urge the government to take action and to evict the illegal shops and factories within the Kabarsthan premises," said Islam.
He further said that after 15 years elapse, new graves are dug over old ones. "But very old graves are not dug," he added. Islam said that during the COVID pandemic, 10 bighas of land was demarcated in the Kabarsthan to bury COVID patients. Since June 16, 2020, the Athgaaon Kabarsthan has been the final resting place of 240 COVID victims. "The Athgaon Kabarsthan Committee is also engaged in various social activities like conducting vaccination drive, providing free oxygen cylinders, free ambulance service, free mortuary van service and arranging free meals," said Islam.
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