ORR lands itself in grave trouble

Md A Basith / TNN / Dec 3, 2006, 01:31 IST

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Huda has taken over at least eight graveyards at various places along the 24-km long stretch of phase-I of ORR.

HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (Huda) has been facing public ire for snatching their graveyards at several places along the Outer Ring Road (ORR). For instance, a few days ago some villagers at Himayatsagar were booked for burying the body of one V Lakshmaiah near the Andhra Pradesh Police Academy. The villagers protested. They contended that they were forced do so because the village graveyard was removed under the ORR project.
Huda has taken over at least eight graveyards at various places along the 24-km long stretch of phase-I of ORR.The number of graveyards would be more under the 60-km long phase-II and 80-km phase-III, say sources.
At least three graveyards have been affected near Himayatsagar. The contractors taking up the ORR project are given powers to level the structures at the notified graveyards. Similarly five graveyards are going to be levelled at Tondupally, Kishanguda and Shamshabad. Officials claimed that it would be possible to shift a "few major structures," but most of the structures would be removed.
"We cannot change the alignment of the ORR for graveyards. The best possible alternate is to provide alternate place and shift some of the major structures," said Huda vice-chairman Jayesh Ranjan. But saying so is hardly assuaging the sentiments of villagers. What is hurting them is the removal of the identity of their departed family members. "It’s really painful. Does development mean no respect to the sentiments.

We villagers have lost land and now even the identity," said J Raghuramaiah, a native of Kismatpur village. According to Huda authorities a piece of five acres at Himayatsagar was provided to villagers as alternate burial ground but the village heads sold out the land and the same area is being used for residential structures. At Shamshabad some land has been earmarked at one place to accommodate graveyards of three places.
Revenue officials had a tough time when they visited some of the villages to remove graveyards. At Kishanguda, the revenue officials were shooed away when they tried to convince the villagers. Revenue officials are asked to identify the suitable alternate place and a ground with more extent is being given to villagers," Jayesh Ranjan told TOI.

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