The absence of basic facilities at cremation grounds does add to an already difficult experience. Several such sites across Lucknow have continued to serve residents for years without proper seating, boundary walls and other basic amenities.
Now the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) has identified 16 cremation grounds for phased redevelopment. At present, Gulala Ghat, Bhaisakund on VIP Road and Bainkunth Dham near the 1090 crossing remain among Lucknow’s major cremation centres. The municipal body had conducted a survey a month ago to check on the state of structures built on their land and which it maintains. “Several cremation grounds are operating on our land, but there are no proper facilities at these locations. Residents living in areas away from these facilities often depend on smaller cremation grounds. The LMC survey found such sites spread across multiple municipal zones, indicating that the problem is not limited to one locality. For residents, protecting these water bodies could also help preserve local rainwater-retention spaces.
We will secure the land by constructing boundary walls and develop basic infrastructure, including seating arrangements and other necessary facilities,” additional municipal commissioner Abhinav Ranjan Srivastava said. Officials said ponds capture rainwater and surface runoff and allow water to gradually percolate into the ground, supporting groundwater recharge. Municipal commissioner Gaurav Kumar said that the LMC would execute the work in phases: securing the sites being the first priority.
