Parliament Question: Management of Burial Grounds and Crematoria

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2991 TO BE ANSWERED ON AUGUST 06, 2026 MANAGEMENT OF BURIAL GROUNDS AND CREMATORIA NO. 2991 SHRI PARSHOTTAMBHAI RUPALA: Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has assessed the availability, capacity and scientific management of burial grounds, crematoria and other funeral infrastructure across the country and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether the Government proposes, in coordination with State Governments and other stakeholders, to formulate a national policy for scientific planning, GIS-based mapping, protection and management of burial grounds and crematoria and if so, the details thereof; (c) whether the Government proposes to prepare a national digital inventory of such facilities and integrate it with platforms such as PM Gati Shakti to prevent encroachments and improve land management and if so, the details thereof; and (d) the details of the measures taken/proposed to be taken to promote environmentally sustainable, scientifically managed funeral systems, eco-friendly practices and biosecurity protocols? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS (SHRI TOKHAN SAHU) (a) to (d): As per Entry 14 of the Twelfth Schedule of the Constitution of India, provision and management of burial grounds, cremation grounds, crematoria and electric crematoria are functions of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), subject to devolution of such functions by the respective State Governments. Urban planning, regulation of land use, public health, sanitation and solid waste management are also functions assigned to ULBs under the Twelfth Schedule. The Government of India supplements the efforts of States and ULBs through policy support, technical guidance and urban development initiatives. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has published Urban and Regional Development Plans Formulation and Implementation (URDPFI) Guidelines, 2014, which provide a framework for preparation of regional, development and local-area plans, including …2/--2- assessment of existing social and physical infrastructure, projection of future requirements, spatial allocation of land for public and semi-public uses, and preparation of Geographic Information System-based plans. Chapter -8 Infrastructure Planning, section 8.6 Miscellaneous Facilities provides for standards of Cremation/Burial Ground. States and ULBs may incorporate such facilities in their statutory master plans, development plans, zonal plans and local-area plans and may undertake GIS-based mapping and periodic assessment of their capacity as part of the urban planning process. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is implementing GIS-based Sub-Schemes under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and AMRUT 2.0, under which "Crematorium/Burial Ground/Graveyard" is mapped as an Existing Land Use feature. Under both the GIS Sub-Schemes, geo-spatial databases are being created using GIS technologies. Under AMRUT GIS Sub-Scheme, Very High Resolution Satellite (VHRS) imagery at 1:4000 scale, is used for mapping in accordance with the MoHUA Design & Standards published in May 2016, while under the AMRUT 2.0 GIS Sub-Scheme, both VHRS imagery at 1:4000 scale using MoHUA Design & Standards published in May 2016 and Drone/UAV technology at 1:1000 scale, in accordance with the MoHUA Design & Standards published in October 2020, is being used for creation of base layers. The GIS-based Master Plans are being formulated using these base layers. Both the GIS Sub-Schemes provide for mapping "Crematorium/Burial Ground/Graveyard" under the Urban Land Use layer at specified scale. So far, under AMRUT, Sub-Scheme on Formulation of GIS-based Master Plans for AMRUT Cities, final Geospatial Databases have been prepared for 437 towns. Draft Master Plans have been prepared for 404 towns, out of which Master Plans for 292 towns have been finalized. And under AMRUT 2.0, Sub-Scheme on Formulation of GIS-based Master Plans for Class-II Towns with population 50,000–99,999, as on date, draft Geospatial Databases have been prepared for 399 towns, out of which 100 have been finalized. Draft Master Plans have been prepared for 136 towns, of which 93 have been finalized. The geo-database created under the AMRUT and AMRUT 2.0 GIS Sub- Schemes are being uploaded on the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan portal. So far, the geo-database created under the Sub-Scheme for 343 towns have been uploaded on PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan portal. …3/--3- The Sub-Schemes support evidence-based planning and management of urban infrastructure through GIS technology. However, measures relating to environmentally sustainable funeral systems, eco-friendly practices and biosecurity protocols fall within the domain of the respective State Governments and other concerned authorities. *****