The burial issue of Muslims has been at the centre of attraction with many fearing that if things go on like this there would difficulties in burying dead Muslims. Following which the Delhi Minorities Commission headed by Dr Zafrul Islam Khan conducted a study on “Problems and Status of Muslim Graveyards in Delhi”. It was commissioned through Human Development Society in 2017 and the results are upsetting.
The issue of graveyard had upset many in Okhla a few years ago until the SP government in UP granted land in Abul Fazal Enclave. Many in Okhla have called for not making graveyards permanent.
If we go by the DMC report then no space will be left for Muslim burials in Delhi after one year.
To address the situation, the DMC has sought remedial measures like allocation of land and provision of temporary graves.
The report pointed out that against an average of 13,000 Muslim burials 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. 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.
In total according to reports, there are 704 Muslim graveyards in various parts of Delhi. The problem is that most graveyards not developed recently and hence they are small measuring 10 bighas or less and 46 percent 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 as a result of natural growth and immigration from other parts of the country,” the report said. The study recommended ‘kutcha’ (temporary) graves, which allow re-burial in the same space after a few years, and development of new graveyards by removing encroachments.
