Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Dec 1: There is a graveyard at Padrikoppal, Lakkappa Rakody in Mani village for the use of people of the region, but it is of no use. As it lacks even basic facilities, the villagers have stopped making use of the graveyard.

After the chief executive officer of the taluk panchayat here Rajanna took over the charge he had undertaken an initiative to provide a well-equipped graveyard for every village. But the slaughterhouse at Mani is of no use. The public graveyard at Padrikoppal has been in existence since 1994 but because it has been totally neglected and in shambles, the people depend on graveyards at Bantwal, Puttur, or alternative lands.

The previous graveyard using iron rods has been removed and a concrete pyre has been created. Bushes and weeds have occupied the entire graveyard and surrounding areas. Its board is lying on the ground and for the last five years, no systematic cremation has taken place here. Even though the meeting of villagers was conducted, the people say that the maintenance committee has not been formed

A plan to develop this graveyard at a cost of Rs 20 lac. had been undertaken. Prafulla Rai and Jagannathi Chowta are the president and vice president of the development committee. There are plans to provide a modern system at a cost of Rs 20 lac after demolishing all structures except the building for storing firewood. As the electric pole there did not get shifted, the work did not move forward.