Cemetery to be renovated

Allahabad Parsi Anjuman trustee Rustom Gandhi has sent an e-mail to Parsiana detailing how his efforts with government departments for improvements to the neglected Allahabad Parsee Cemetery have borne fruit. Feroze Gandhi, husband of the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi is buried here.

Rustom Gandhi at the grave of his cousin Feroze, husband of Indira Gandhi

The Hindi language newspaper Amar Ujala published from Allahabad reported in its February 14, 2009 edition that Rs 10.84 lakh has been sanctioned for the purpose. As per the translation of the news item: "At last the Nagar Nigam (municipality) has woken up… for beautification of the Parsee Cemetery situated at Mumfordgunj, Allahabad… A budget of one crore has been sanctioned for repairs to various roads in the town, the dandia nala and the Parsee Cemetery…The work in the Parsee Cemetery will be completed in four months. (It) includes lighting, repairs to the approach road, pavements, etc apart from a facelift within the premises.” The newspaper had drawn attention of the municipality to this problem in its issue of February 9, 2009, following which the mayor inspected the property along with Gandhi and issued the necessary instructions to the chief engineer for carrying out the work, and also sanctioned the plans for it. The e-mail reveals that tenders for the work have been called for.