Maharashtra Govt Launches 90-Day Drive to Upgrade Burial Grounds Across Mumbai

Mumbai:- The Maharashtra government has announced a 90-day programme aimed at enhancing burial ground facilities across Mumbai, Industries Minister Uday Samant informed the Legislative Assembly on Monday.
Responding to a Calling Attention Motion raised by BJP MLA Manisha Chaudhari regarding the condition of the Kandarpada burial ground in Dahisar, Samant said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been directed to survey land reserved for burial grounds under the Development Plan (DP).
“Burial grounds will be developed based on local needs. Within 90 days, reservations and funding for these grounds will be finalized,” Samant stated.
Currently, the BMC manages 10 Christian burial grounds, while 42 are privately run. Among Muslim burial grounds, 17 fall under municipal management and 67 are privately operated.
A dedicated committee will also be formed to design a comprehensive framework for cremation and burial services across urban local bodies, considering factors like population growth, urbanization, and land availability. The services will align with National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) guidelines, Samant said.
Congress MLA Aslam Shaikh and Samajwadi Party’s Raees Shaikh emphasized the need to improve decomposition processes for buried bodies. BJP’s Chaudhari also raised health concerns over the lack of disinfection procedures.
Samant acknowledged the issue, stating that burial currently takes place in a traditional manner without any disinfection process.