Locals: Graveyards charging 1-2L for advance booking

Hyderabad: Burials have become a grave matter for many, especially the poor, in several Old City localities. Dearth of space in many graveyards has resulted in families being forced to dish out money to give a decent final farewell to their loved ones.
While the rich are able to cough up the amount asked by graveyard committees and even book space in advance, the poor have been mostly left high and dry.“Huge amount is being asked as a bribe to bury at Dargah Shah Raju Qattal situated at Misri Gunj. We want to know if the Waqf Board has fixed any such burial amount? The Waqf Board officials were informed, but nothing has been done,’’ said Mohammed Ahmed, a TDP leader, who has sent a legal notice to the authorities.
Families said that the graveyard committees were asking anywhere from Rs 1-2 lakh to book the place in advance. Even paying respects to the dear departed has become a problem in a few graveyards. “My father passed away in 2005 and was buried in a graveyard in Rein Bazaar. But it is always locked and we can’t visit the grave. If we ask the committee, we face harassment. The Waqf Board should take action against these rowdies,’’ Mohammed Aleemuddin from Khilwat told TOI.
When TOI contacted Waqf Board chairman Mohammed Saleem, he said, “Nobody has the authority to seek money for burial place. If we receive any complaint about any graveyard, strict legal action will be taken.”