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Journalism of Courage
SAS Nagar, April 21: A cremation ground or a burial site barely 20 metres from the door of your house…!
The thought is not easy to visualise but come to Sectors 70 and 71 of SAS Nagar and your image is sure to get a body. For this is the place where residents cope with an average three cremations a week right in front of their residential accommodation.
With PUDA claiming to be "helpless" in this regard and villagers not ready to let go, residents are a dejected lot. So much is the trouble that allottees have not taken possession of about 60 flats in this area.
"The latest cremation by Mataur people was done today. They never use the authorised grounds in Sector 57. Instead, they conveniently set a body at fire in a residential area, no matter how much insanitation it spreads," said a fuming J.S. Cheema, general secretary, Residents’ Welfare Society, Sector 70.
The members of welfare associations of Sectors 70 and 71 have given representations to PUDA about five times, the last on February 21 after a burial was done 10 metres from house no. 2646, Sector 71. Says Manohar Singh, president, Welfare Association, Sector 71, "PUDA continues to be silent. Mataur people say the land is theirs. Why were we allotted these plots if there was a kabristan right in front?"
Some two years ago, on one such representation, PUDA had directed its SDM to meet the sarpanch of Mataur, but nothing materialised. Sarpanch of the village, Amrik Singh, when contacted, maintained that the land in Sector 71 is originally a burial site. "It belongs to us. What can we do if it is near to houses?" he asked.
PUDA confirmed the claim, as Additional Chief Administrator, Seema Jain said, "Sector 71 land belongs to Waqf Board and we are in the process of acquiring it. Although the residents are genuinely disturbed, there’s little we can do about it. We had deputed our people to call on the sarpanch informally, but to no avail."
As far as the land in Sector 70 is concerned, it belongs to PUDA as per the map and hence cremation in this area is illegal. The map shows that the site as allocated for construction of a high school.
Explaining her stand, Seema Jain said, "This land was part of subsequent acquisition proceedings. Some portions might have got left out as and when we acquired it. We have already issued the required notifications in this regard and soon the land will be our property. After that we can redress the grievances of people".
