Residents raise funds to save burial ground

The residents of Old Pallavaram have built a compound wall at a cost of Rs 8 lakh to fence a burial ground in order to keep off encroachers.

The residents of the neighborhood decided to build the fence after a few, in allegiance with local politicians, repeatedly attempted to encroach it in the past two years.

Originally, the sprawling ground was located at an area of three acre, but it was reduced to 0.3 acres over the years.

“Over these years, many buildings were constructed encroaching the ground and a portion of it is being utilised as a playground. We cannot exert pressure on the authorities to remove the structures. Many are trying to give it a communal color when the issue is being raised. So, we decided to save the portion that rightfully belongs to the burial ground now,” a resident on the condition of anonymity said.

In 2016, the Pallavaram Municipality proposed to build an overhead water tank to meet the drinking water needs of the localities. Subsequently, inhabitants registered their protest towards it. But the authorities remained adamant to implement it.

The residents approached the High Court and obtained a stay restraining the authorities from building it. To the dismay of residents, a new project was proposed on the same location under the Swachh Bharath Scheme. “This time the civic body planned to build a compost yard on the premises. When we intervened, the authorities complained to the local police that a few residents are interfering with the duties of government servants,” said Hariharan V, a longtime resident.

At the beginning of the year, the residents decided to raise funds to construct the wall. The public echo that a few, with the allegiance of local politicians, tried to siphon off the land for its real estate value.

A resident of Old Pallavaram, V Sharmila, added, “They want to build a new facility in the burial ground. Subsequently, they will close the facility citing hygiene issues. The effort to save the burial ground has to be done by the government. But the residents are forced to take proactive measures here.”