Burial ground closure irks locals in Cooch Behar

Cooch Behar: With Cooch Behar airport authorities locking the century-old burial ground to pave way for the resumption of air services here, the Christian community is in a fix here.
The burial ground, offered to the Christian community by Maharaja Nripendra Narayan, the then ruler of Cooch Behar State on 8 August 1885, was locked by the airport authorities on 15 August this year.
After Independence, the Indian Christians took possession of the church here, said Reverend James Prashata Paul, in-charge of the Cooch Behar Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church ( NELC).
The Cooch Behar Airport started functioning in 1942. The burial ground was also open then.
When renovation of the airport began in 1995, the Cooch Behar Airport Authority constructed a boundary wall with an iron gate and a separate entrance for the burial ground by informing the Cooch Behar NELC authorities. The NELC authorities were assured that the gate would be opened as and when required.
The Cooch Behar district magistrate, Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha, said the existing entrance was closed for security reasons. "An alternative approach road and a bridge over the Mara-Torsa may be constructed for exclusive use of the members of Christian community," the DM, added.
Secretary of NELC burial ground committee, Mr Tridip Paul said it would be a problem for them to enter the burial ground with a body by crossing about 5-kilomere from the NEL Church compound after funeral service through Chakchaka.
The DM, Mr Sinha, however did not agree that it would be difficult for anyone to go to the burial ground by crossing an additional 3-kilometre.
12/09/07 The Statesman

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Categories: Airports Sep 2007