By Venkata Vemuri, IANS,
Leicester : A section of local Hindus is protesting a proposal to extend a cemetery in this town of Britain because their religion says they cannot live near one, but officials are going ahead with the plan.
The main cemetery of Leicester, Gilroes’ Cemetery, is running out of space for graves and it is set to be extended by extra eight acres when the city council meets next Tuesday.
The officials say the remaining burial plots may be full in the next 18 months.
People residing near the cemetery extension have voiced several concerns, including devaluation of their properties and reduction of green space.
The Hindus among them say they cannot live near a cemetery. A spokesperson for the Leicester Hindu Voice, Mukesh Naker, said: “Hindus believe that graveyards have lots of negative energy. It’s likely that some Hindu residents will decide to move, rather than live near a graveyard.”
A resident, Thirthahalli Girish, has also written to the council: “I belong to the Hindu religion and my religious belief does not permit me to stay next to the cemetery. My house faces straight opposite the proposed extension. I would be devastated to see and face the cemetery on an everyday basis if this extension goes ahead. This would be extremely distressing to me and my family.”
But the council has decided to go ahead with the extension on the ground that the cemetery is used by people of 47 different faiths, who should have the choice of being buried locally.
A council planning report said: “The purpose of the planning system is to regulate the development and use of land in the public interest. It is not to protect the private interests of one person, or a group of people.”
(Venkata Vemuri can be contacted at [email protected])