A dignified and peaceful farewell is considered a fundamental right for every departed soul, yet the Naya Gaon Mokshdham cremation facility in Pali, Rajasthan, presents a harrowing picture of administrative neglect. Families gathering to perform the final rites for their deceased relatives are forced to wade through knee-deep stagnant water and thick mud. From lighting funeral pyres to burying young children, citizens face extreme physical struggle and emotional distress at a place meant for solemn remembrance.
Drainage Seepage and Neighborhood Waste Create Perpetual Slough
The majority of the cremation ground remains submerged throughout the year, turning into a massive pool during wet weather. Resident Sampatram Bawari pointed out that an existing water reservoir (nadi) lies adjacent to the site, along with a primary drain managed by the Public Health Engineering Department. Continuous water leakage and seepage from both sources continuously soak the ground. Adding to the crisis, wastewater from nearby residential settlements flows directly into the open grounds of the facility. Despite repeatedly lodging complaints with the municipal corporation, local residents have received nothing beyond empty verbal assurances.
Half a Decade of Neglect Leaves Mourners Prone to Injuries
Community members report that this distressing situation has persisted for the past five to six years without any corrective action from local authorities. Formal written representations and oral pleas have yielded zero tangible results on the ground. When rainfall intensifies, conditions deteriorate so severely that carrying a bier inside the premises becomes extremely hazardous.
Highlighting the daily hazard, local resident Chhogaram Dewasi said, "पानी भरा रहने के कारण यहां आने वाले लोग अक्सर फिसलकर गिर जाते हैं और चोटिल होते हैं." Having to navigate slippery sludge and waist-high filth during moments of grief subjects grieving families to unnecessary trauma, underscoring the municipal apparatus's apparent apathy.
Waterlogged Burial Grounds Compound Grief for Bereaved Parents
The most heartbreaking dimension of this crisis involves the designated section used for burying infants and young children. That parcel of land remains constantly inundated with dirty water, forcing mourning parents to dig graves amidst pooled sewage and silt. The psychological toll of burying a child in waterlogged muck has fueled immense frustration and pain among the entire community.
Demands for Concrete Drainage and Land Reclamation Ahead of Stir
Faced with an unyielding health and civic hazard, local residents have put forward concrete corrective measures before the administration. They have demanded the immediate construction of a properly paved concrete stormwater drain to channel accumulated water away from the site. Furthermore, they insist that earth-filling work must be conducted to significantly raise the ground level in low-lying sections of the premises to prevent recurring water accumulation. Residents and village members have cautioned the authorities that failure to address these urgent issues promptly will force them to organize large-scale public demonstrations and civil protests.
