By IANS
Lucknow : Land belonging to graveyards for both Muslims and Christians as well as cremation grounds of Hindus in Lucknow have been encroached upon by land sharks and many of these are being used for commercial purposes.
As per Lucknow Municipal Corporation records, there are 323 graveyards and cremation grounds spread over an area of 236 'bighas' in the city.
A municipal official admitted that "at least 52 of these graveyards and cremation grounds were under the illegal occupation of land sharks supported by criminals". He added that no one was willing to take action against them either.
The official estimated the market value of the encroached land to be "not less than Rs.1 billion".
He said: "Some of these have been usurped completely by anti-social elements, who have converted them into commercial goldmines."
Municipal Commissioner S.K. Singh seemed blissfully unaware about the encroachments.
"This was never brought to my notice, but now I will have it looked into and we will see that the encroached land is reverted back to the graveyards and cremation grounds," Singh told IANS.
However, as many as 40 complaints in this regard were pending with the municipal authorities over the years, but no action was ever initiated against the alleged culprits.