‘No space will be left for Muslim burials in Delhi after one year’

New Delhi: A Delhi Minorities Commission (DMC) report has warned that there will be no space left for Muslim burials in the national capital after a year. The report, released by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, has sought remedial measures like allocation of land and provision of temporary graves.

Quoting a study conducted by the commission, the report pointed out that against an average of 13,000 Muslim funerals every year in the city, there were 29,370 vacancies in existing graveyards till 2017.

“This means that at the present pace, there will be no space left after one year from now unless some remedial strategies are adopted,” the report said.

The records show there are 704 Muslim graveyards in various parts of Delhi, out of which only 131 are functional.

“Out of the functioning 131 graveyards, 16 are not operational due to litigation while 43 others have been encroached upon by different entities,” the report said, adding, “Most graveyards in the city are small, measuring 10 bighas or less and 46 per cent of them measure five bighas or less.”

The report said, “Very few graveyards were developed in the recent past despite the growing need due to the increase in population, which is a result of natural growth and immigration from other parts of the country.”

The study, ‘Problems and Status of Muslim Graveyards in Delhi,’ was conducted by the commission through the Human Development Society in 2017. According to the report, the findings of the study have been presented to the Delhi government, various departments, and organisations to plan a remedy.

The study has recommended kutcha (temporary) graves, which allow re-burial in the same space after a few years, and development of new graveyards by removing encroachments. It also called for allocation of new land for graveyards as well as taking steps like building boundary walls and appointing guards to prevent encroachment of the existing graveyards.