Mangalore, October 9: While land above the ground for a shelter for a common man is becoming dearer, so is the 'ground under' in prime parish localities in the city. A permanent grave in most of the parishes in the Mangalore diocese ranges from Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000. If the cost of building the grave, putting up marble fixtures is included, the cost runs up to nearly a lakh.
The parishes have been upping the rates in order to discourage people going in for permanent graves. Older parishes have about one to two acres of cemetery land. Newer parishes, which have bifurcated from old like the Blessed Teresa of Kolkata Church at Paldane from Cordel Church, Kulashekar, still depend on its parent Church for burials.
In Cascia Parish, if a permanent grave cost Rs 12,000 before 90's, it is Rs 50,000 now. From 1990 to 2010, there was no option for a permanent grave in that parish. A permanent grave is used to bury three or five family members (in the same grave). The subsequent burials, second to fifth, in the permanent grave will attract 50% cost of permanent grave; which in case of Cascia Parish is Rs 25,000. The money is used for the upkeep and beautification of the cemetery.
Rt Rev Msgr Denis Moras Prabhu, vicar general of Mangalore Diocese, told TOI that the intention of the diocese is to discourage permanent graves as cemetery space is getting scarce. The church wants no discrimination between the rich and the poor. Once a couple of parishes wanted to charge Rs 1 lakh for permanent graves and the Bishop's House shot it down,'' he said. We also discourage building of monuments over graves,'' he added.
Moreover, a Bishop House Circular in the 70's has made it clear that permanent graves are not for perpetuity. Fifty years after the last burial the Church has the right to the grave. But we have not used that option so far,'' Msgr Prabhu added.
Comments
Add new comment