By TCN Special Correspondent,
Lucknow: Though it is well known that grave land in Shia Qabristan and Imambara is sold at a premium. But there is another addition to it. Lucknow has more graves of those alive than the deceased. Not only this, if you are interested in making money, leave aside real estate, invest in a
grave and earn premium by reselling it.
The controversy over grave land being sold at a premium in Lucknow has been raised several times by TwoCircles.net. The issue is once again in limelight as ‘reselling of grave land’ has become a good business option.
Let us take a look at the trade of graves in Lucknow.
Hayati Qabr
The grave land which is purchased during one’s lifetime is known as Hayati Qabr. People purchase land for their grave and earmark it in the graveyard. The piece of land is then reserved for them so that when they die, they are buried here.
Resale of grave land
Due to the trend of Hayati Qabr, the land for graves is being reduced. Their rates are now skyrocketing. At Ghufran Maab Imambara, it is reported/claimed that land is being sold at Rs 75000 per grave. Now people purchase their grave land and later resell it to some other person at a high rate, pocketing the margin. Some mutawallis are also engaged in the business.
Alive outnumber dead
At one such graveyard in Talkatora Karbala, the graves of alive outnumber the deceased. At this graveyard most of the graves are Hayati Qabr. They are earmarked and a small plate is fixed on them. The rate here is as low as Rs 7000 per grave; so people are flocking here for purchasing hayati qabr so that rates do not shoot up.
Hospitals too on graves
One such Samra Hospital has come up in Imambara Ghufran Maab which has come up on graves. Eighty graves are situated in the area where this hospital has come up. For this the hospital has erected a linter and on this they have erected multistoreyed hospital while the graves are still inside.
Donation
All the illegal things in the graveyards happen through this only. People give money and mutawalli accept it as donation. A receipt is also given for the money.
Action
Shia Waqf Board Chairman, Syed Waseem Rizvi claimed that notices have been given to mutawalli of Imambara Ghufranmaab, Maulana Kalbe Jawwad for presenting all accounts regarding payment received for grave land. Jawwad has not replied so far and in fact went on to organise a Shia Mahasammelan demanding dissolving the board.
Another one at Imambara Agha Baqar official refusing to be named stated that they are ready to return the money which has been taken for grave land. But the person also has to remove the nameplate of his kins buried there as the land will be reused since there is acute shortage of land.