Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Ashok Mittal has announced a grant of Rs 50 lakh from the Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) fund for the development of Shivpuri cremation ground in Harnam Daspura, Jalandhar.
The funds will be used to improve basic facilities at the cremation ground, aiming to provide better arrangements for families visiting the premises to perform the last rites of their loved ones.
The proposed development will focus on essential amenities, including proper seating arrangements, drinking water facilities, restrooms and shelter to protect visitors from the sun and rain and the objective is to ensure that families do not face additional difficulties due to a lack of basic facilities during an already difficult time.
Speaking about the grant, Dr. Ashok Mittal said that while development work often focuses on roads, temples and other public infrastructure, cremation grounds also deserve equal attention, and he pointed out that families visiting such places are already dealing with the loss of a loved one, making access to basic amenities particularly important.
He added that the grant aims to improve the overall facilities at Shivpuri and make the premises more convenient for people arriving for funeral rites.
AAP candidate and Jalandhar Central Halka In-charge Nitin Kohli welcomed the announcement, appreciating Dr. Ashok Mittal's decision to allocate Rs 50 lakh for the cremation ground's development and said that families visiting Shivpuri are already going through a period of grief, and the availability of proper seating, drinking water, restrooms and protection from weather conditions can help ease some of their difficulties.
The Rs 50 lakh allocation is aimed at strengthening the basic infrastructure at Shivpuri, with a focus on making the cremation ground better equipped to serve families from the surrounding areas and the announcement brings attention to the importance of improving facilities at public cremation grounds, which remain essential community spaces but often receive less attention in routine infrastructure development.
