Govt to roll out 90-day programme to improve burial ground facilities in Mumbai

Samant said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been instructed to survey plots reserved for burial grounds under the city’s Development Plan (DP).

Chaudhari also flagged public health concerns stemming from the absence of a disinfection mechanism at the burial grounds.

“Based on the survey findings and local requirements, these reserved plots will be developed accordingly. Within 90 days, we will finalise the reservations and allocate funds,” Samant said.

Currently, the BMC manages 10 burial grounds for Christians, while 42 are under private management.

For the Muslim community, the civic body manages 17 burial grounds, and 67 are privately managed.

Samant further stated that a dedicated committee will be constituted to draft a comprehensive framework for cremation and burial services across urban local bodies.

“The framework will consider population growth, urban expansion, and land availability. All processes will align with National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) guidelines,” he added.

Congress MLA Aslam Shaikh and Samajwadi Party’s Raees Shaikh also pointed out the need to expedite the decomposition process for buried bodies.

Responding to this, Samant acknowledged that burials continue to follow traditional practices, without any disinfection procedures in place.