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Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Panchayat and Rural Development department has written to all collectors and chief executive officers of Zila Panchayats regarding availability of cremation grounds and allied facilities.
Every Gram Panchayat has been asked to verify, through revenue records, which villages under their jurisdiction have cremation grounds through land reservation and which do not.
The circular comes after panchayat and rural development minister Prahlad Patel had recently announced that villages lacking cremation ground facilities would be provided with such facilities along with approach connectivity.
However, additional chief secretary Deepali Rastogi clarified that all villages already have cremation grounds. The objective, she said, is to provide proper access roads and ensure protection through fencing and boundary walls.
A senior officer of the Directorate of Panchayat and Rural Department, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there is no proper record of how many villages actually have cremation ground facilities.
If land for a cremation ground is unavailable, the Gram Panchayat must apply for allocation of land from the concerned collector. The department plans to fence cremation grounds and construct boundary walls. For grounds lacking approach roads, especially where villagers face difficulties during monsoon, access roads will be constructed.
Works for fencing, boundary walls and approach roads will be prioritised under the infrastructure development grant of 5th State Finance Commission.
