A Dalit burial ground serving the Haggenahalli-Marutinagar and Shivanandanagar areas of Bengaluru’s Peenya-Dasarahalli constituency is reportedly facing severe infrastructure and maintenance problems, affecting dignified funerals and creating safety concerns for nearby residents.
According to a report by Prajavani, the burial ground has no secure compound wall or gate. Unmanaged weeds and bushes have spread across the premises, making it difficult to walk through the site. Residents also allege that the open and poorly maintained space has become a gathering point for people consuming alcohol and engaging in smoking and other activities.
The burial ground is located on the road connecting Marutinagar and Shivanandanagar through the Andrahalli Main Road. The area is surrounded by residential neighbourhoods, and residents say funeral-related activities are directly visible from the road, causing unease among people living nearby.
Residents have called for a tall compound wall and a secure gate to restrict unauthorised access, particularly at night. They told Prajavani that people can enter the burial ground freely after dark, and that the situation has made it difficult for women, young women and children to use the adjoining road comfortably.
The site also reportedly lacks a functioning water facility for relatives and members of the public to wash their hands and feet after funeral rites. Residents said the borewell is not working and has not been repaired. They have also raised concerns about waste being dumped around the burial ground and, in some places, inside the premises.
Regular cleaning, waste removal and the clearance of weeds and bushes are among the measures sought by residents. They have also demanded lighting, drinking water and the basic infrastructure required for funeral ceremonies. The absence of lighting and a gate has, according to residents, contributed to increased nuisance and unauthorised activity at night.
The complaints point to a wider civic administration challenge: burial and cremation grounds require not only space, but also boundary protection, sanitation, water, lighting, waste management and regular maintenance. In this case, residents say the lack of these basic services is affecting both the dignity of funerals and the safety of the surrounding neighbourhood.
Residents have urged the authorities to restore the borewell, install a secure gate and compound wall, clear the vegetation, improve lighting and establish regular cleaning and waste-disposal arrangements. The report does not include a response from the responsible civic authority or a confirmed timeline for the requested works.
