VISAKHAPATNAM: With little space left in the Waltair Cemetery, which is the oldest and the only cemetery for the Christian community in the city, the Visakhapatnam Christian Cemeteries’ Board (VCCB) demanded the municipal authorities to set another cemetery at the earliest.
Since the Waltair Cemetery near the GVMC office has been put into use for more than 200 years now, the land is almost filled with the buried, which is raising a new challenge for Christians in the city.
VCCB president George Cheedi told reporters here Sunday that Vizag, being one of the fast developing cities in the country, became a residence for more than five lakh Christians and has around 600 churches.
Many Christians migrate regularly from villages to the city in search of livelihood and hence, there was an urgent need for establishing one more cemetery, he opined.
The Waltair Cemetery, established in 1804, was the only burial ground available for the Christians in the entire city.
The VCCB had been fighting for the cause since 2003 and the issue was reported to many collectors, political leaders and bureaucrats in the span of 10 years, but in vain.
The officials sought the government to allocate any type of land for the use of Christian burial ground at the earliest.
They also demanded reopening of the regimental line at Jagadamba Junction at the earliest so they could start the burials, he added.
VCCB secretary G Mathew Peter and treasurer Thomas Pullatt were present.