Videos showing waterlogged graves and mourners sheltering under umbrellas beneath a leaking canopy at the Narialwadi Muslim Cemetery in Mazgaon have sparked concern over the condition of one of Mumbai’s largest burial grounds. Following the public outcry, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has approved Rs 1 crore for renovation works at the cemetery.
Spread across eight acres, the cemetery has been managed by the Narialwadi Mosque and Qabrastan Trust since 1927, although it has served as a burial ground for much longer. Residents and members of the local community have raised concerns over deteriorating infrastructure, including damaged pathways, inadequate civic amenities and the collapse of large portions of the waiting shed roof.
The issue has also renewed scrutiny over public funds reportedly allocated to the cemetery over the past decade. A local vlogger questioned the utilisation of MLA and corporator funds spent between 2014 and 2026, alleging that while publicity boards highlighting proposed works were displayed, the present condition of the cemetery suggests otherwise.
“If a proper estimate is made, works worth crores of rupees were carried out in the Narialwadi Cemetery since 2014 through MLA funds alone. Or was it just announcements, boards and banners, but no actual work?” the vlogger said, while calling for accountability from former public representatives.
Trust member Aziz Makki said the Rs 1 crore allocation was sanctioned after local corporator Waqar Khan raised the issue during a Standing Committee meeting.
“Tenders will now have to be issued, so the work will take some time,” Makki said, adding that development works had often been undertaken without consulting the trust.
Makki also claimed that many graves remain unmarked and nearly 20% of the cemetery is occupied by around 65 illegal shanties.
“The municipal corporation should conduct a detailed survey to demarcate graves and prepare a systematic layout. This could create space for another 500 to 1,000 graves,” he said. “We also receive demands to construct dargahs over certain graves, but we discourage the practice because we want to recycle graves after the prescribed period. Simply painting the premises in the name of beautification serves no purpose.”
He further criticised the execution of development projects.
“Corporators and MLAs bring workers, hold photo opportunities, but very little actual groundwork is visible,” Makki said. “Daily burials have increased from an average of about 10 to between 30 and 40. We have also not reopened Covid-era graves for reuse because we are uncertain about the applicable rules.”
While Waqar Khan could not be reached for comment, he said in a video statement that his proposal for renovating the cemetery had received support from corporators across political parties.
“Rs 1 crore is not enough to repair the pathways, rebuild the waiting shed, and install lighting and CCTV cameras. This is a large cemetery and much more funding is required,” Khan said.
Some local residents also questioned the trust over the utilisation of donations and financial transparency. In response, Makki said the trust only manages the cemetery, while all civil infrastructure works are carried out by the BMC.
Source: The Free Press Journal
