Dibrugarh, Mar 20: On the heritage British cemetery in Dibrugarh district of Higher Assam , it is just bushes which might be seen.
“Some renovation work occurred two years in the past however now no work for the event of the cemetery has occurred. Bushes have sprouted up in every single place. Lately, a vacationer from a overseas nation got here right here looking for their relative’s grave however they didn’t discover the grave,” stated Biplab Das, caretaker of the Christian cemetery.
The cemetery constructed throughout East India Firm rule in 1862-63 for Rs 4,812 in the center of Dibrugarh city is in a state of neglect.
The lackadaisical angle of the Dibrugarh district administration and lack of upkeep has turned the cemetery into a jungle.
Altogether 103 British nationals had been laid to relaxation in the cemetery. The primary individual laid to relaxation was 33-year-old British corporal Thomas Path. A grave of Britisher John Henry Wagentreiber of 1776 can be mendacity on the cemetery.
The cemetery, located alongside Assam Trunk Highway close to India Membership, covers an space of 68,608 sq. toes and measures 168 toes in size and a couple of,556 toes in breadth.
The grave of 29-year-old William Alexander Mackenzie Duncan, who was Deputy Commissioner of Dibrugarh (headquarters of undivided Lakhimpur district), additionally lies in the cemetery.
It could be famous that some renovation work was completed in the cemetery however the work was not up to speed. Sources stated the funds which had been alloted for the event of the cemetery was not correctly utilised.
“It’s most disheartening to see that many pucca outlets have come up in entrance of the cemetery. The outlets have encroached on the land which belongs to the cemetery. Regardless of figuring out every little thing, the district administration stays a mute spectator. The British cemetery ought to declared as a heritage web site as a result of it was one of oldest British cemeteries in the state,” stated Minakshi Handique, a retired faculty instructor.
Earlier, the cemetery was below the care of the Assam Department Indian Tea Affiliation, however a few years again it was handed over to the Dibrugarh district administration.
“Funds had been sanctioned for the event of the cemetery some two years again. However in the identify of renovation solely plastering and cementing on the grave was completed, nothing has been completed for the preservation of the cemetery,” alleged a native resident.
It has been alleged that earlier additionally a fund from Zila Parishad was sanctioned for the boundary wall and renovation work of the cemetery however the fund was not correctly utilized.
The cemetery has not but been handed over to the Dibrugarh Municipal Company(DMC).
Earlier, steps had been taken towards the unlawful encroachment however nothing optimistic has come out.
“We have now urged the district administration to clear all encroachments and protect the cemetery. Dibrugarh has not too long ago been declared because the second metropolis of Assam after Guwahati and the British cemetery located in the center of the city can grow to be a vacationer vacation spot if correct upkeep might be completed,” stated a senior citizen.
Learn: From the Hills of Meghalaya to the Battlefields of France | The Garo Labour Corps’ Forgotten Sacrifice
WATCH:
Discover newest information from each nook of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your on-line supply for breaking information, video protection.
Additionally, Comply with us on-
Twitter-twitter.com/nemediahub
Youtube channel- www.youtube.com/@NortheastMediaHub2020
Instagram- www.instagram.com/ne_media_hub
Obtain our app from playstore – Northeast Media Hub
Source link
#British #cemetery #Assam #state #neglect
