The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Buddha Poornima site for cremation opposed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Dec 25, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Buddha Poornima site for cremation opposed

By Our Special Correspondent

The Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, inspecting the site for funeral of Narasimha Rao in Hyderabad on Friday.

HYDERABAD, DEC. 24. The choice of the Buddha Poornima site abutting Sanjivayya Park and Hussainsagar lake for cremation of P.V. Narasimha Rao has been opposed by environmentalists who contend that it is in violation of a judgment of the High Court.

In a representation sent to the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, and officials, Capt. J. Rama Rao of the Forum for Better Hyderabad cited the judgment of January 28, 1997, restraining the Government and the MCH Commissioner from converting Indira Park and Buddha Poornima Project site to any other use.

The court had also restrained them from permitting, in future, any burial, cremation, or otherwise disposal of the dead at any place other than the place registered as contemplated under Section 566 of the Municipal Corporation Act, read with Sections 567 and 568 thereof.

Plea to YSR

He appealed to the Chief Minister not to make issue controversial in the light of the court order. The court gave the verdict in the petitions filed against cremation and building of memorials for the former Chief Ministers -- M. Channa Reddy at Indira Park and N.T. Rama Rao at Buddha Poornima Project site.

It observed that "in permitting disposal of the bodies of Rama Rao and Channa Reddy in public parks, they have violated the rights of petitioners and others similarly situated under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution."

The court said already the per capita recreation area in the twin cities was less than 0.5 square metres as against a requirement of 3.00 sq metres. Any depletion of the lung space would make breathing for city people more difficult.

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