Bodies in park area give nightmares

Bodies in park area give nightmares
Deccan Herald

The very thought that bodies are being cremated on a site, which was earmarked to be a park, is enough to send chills down residents’ spines.

A site in HRBR Layout appears to be suffering from a serious identity crisis — it is not sure if its purpose is to be a park or a burial ground.

Three and a half acres of land in the HRBR Layout I Block that was earmarked as a Civic Amenity site (CA Number 7), and allotted as a park area for the residents as per the approved layout plan, is increasingly being used as a burial ground by people living in the neighbouring areas.

For residents living near the burial grounds, the disposing of bodies in the CA site has taken nightmarish proportions. President of Kalyanagar Residents’ Welfare Association C M Subbaiah said four bodies have been either buried or cremated at the site in the last two months alone.

According to another resident Rajashekhar, the locality does not have a single park in which his three-year-old son can play.

It is reportedly a perfect haven for nefarious activities too. Some of the residents say the site, with its thick growth of bushes, is an unsafe place to venture out in the evenings, due to anti-social elements.

Meanwhile, for 68-year-old Ambabai, a die-hard vegetarian, it is the sight of human bones that are often left near the gate, that gets on her nerves. “The bones are often dug out by stray dogs and birds who leave it at our doorsteps.The acrid smell of burning bodies is another problem,” she laments.

Fear of diseases and the probability of an epidemic break-out is another concern shared by the residents.

Incidentally, BDA had handed over that site to BMP some years ago and Rs 12 lakh was sanctioned to develop a park.

When Deccan Herald spoke to corporator Lokesh Reddy, he said he was aware of the problem and a meeting was convened with the residents of HRBR Layout.

Referring to the outcome of the meeting, he said a decision to constitute a committee consisting of representatives of the community using the site as a burial ground, BMP officials and the local MLA, would be formed shortly. However, till date no progress has been made on that front.

“We are yet to constitute the committee as it involves the feelings of a backward community. A decision will be taken only after discussing the matter with the leaders of that community,” Mr Reddy said.