Mumbai: Stacked burials may begin at Deonar

The bodies were exhumed to make space for new arrivals as the existing 3 graveyards have been full. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

BMC's M-East Ward authorities have decided to add another layer of soil in the Deonar cemetery over already buried bodies to create additional space for more, effectively placing them one on top of the other. "This will increase the height so that we don't have to remove any bodies to make space. There will be a double layer to accommodate another body," said Dr Sanjay Phundre, Medical Officer of Health at M (East) Ward.

However, the decision will need the consent of the locals. For this, a public notice will be issued and circulated, calling for any objections or suggestions regarding the move. The decision comes after it was found in June that bodies at the Rafi Nagar graveyard were not decomposing even 18 months after the burial. Soon, it was revealed that a similar problem has been occurring at the another graveyard in Deonar.

It is worth noting that the bodies were exhumed in the first place to make space for new arrivals, as the existing three graveyards in the ward have been facing a shortage of space. "In a lot of cases, it takes more than 18 months for the body to decompose, so it is not a set timeframe," Dr Phundre said.

Faiyaz Alam Shaikh, an activist in the area and founder of the group Govandi Citizens, has been holding a series of discussions with BMC officials to resolve the issue at the earliest. He said, "While we are satisfied with the solution at Deonar, we will only find out if others in the area are okay with it after they register their consent or objections." Another crucial demand that the residents have put forward is to test the quality of soil at existing cemeteries and create more graveyards proportionate to the growing population in the ward.

"That will take some time," Dr Phundre said. Meanwhile, he added that there will be more space made at Rafi Nagar graveyard to accommodate 100 to 150 bodies. "Consent of the locals will be needed for that too, and we will proceed accordingly," he said.

However, one immediate sigh of relief for locals has been that Rafi Nagar graveyard will no longer have strict timings of 8 am to 8 pm for visitors. mid-day had earlier reported on the hassle that families in the area are going through due to the closure of the two nearest graveyards in the ward. Apart from that, the strict timings for visitors had irked the residents, who felt it was their right to visit their loved ones' graves as and when they wished to.