Over 50 per cent of the 8064 graveyards in Bihar have been fenced since the inception of a scheme in this regard from 2006-07, a minister told the assembly today.
Replying to a starred question by BJP MLA Shivesh Kumar, home Minister in-charge Vijay Kumar Chaudhary told the assembly that of the 8064 graveyards identified for fencing on priority basis, over 50 per cent has been completed.
The scheme of fencing of graveyards was launched by the state government in 2006-07 after taking note of the law and order problems being caused by encroachment of the burial ground and sensitivity of the issue.
When RJD legislative party leader Abdul Bari Siddique asked the state government about the time-frame for completion of fencing on all identified graveyards, the minister said that work was being carried out on a priority basis from among those identified for fencing.
Chaudhary further said that the district magistrates and police chiefs of the concerned districts have been made accountable for any law and order situation arising out of encroachment and related problems at the identified graveyards.
When another BJP member Sanjay Singh Tiger asked whether the state government intended to co-opt the elected representatives as members of the committee for protection or fencing of graveyards in view of sensitivity of the issue, the minister said that the members views' will be taken note of.
Earlier, BJP member Shivesh Kumar had asked a starred question to know the time-frame for fencing of graveyards in villages under Agiyawon assembly constituency to which the minister said that the fencing has been done already.
