Hyderabad is facing a new crisis—not just for the living, but also for the dead. With the city’s rapid real estate boom and shrinking open spaces, finding a place to bury loved ones has become a growing challenge.
As housing prices rise and land becomes scarce, graveyards in the city are being encroached upon. Many of these cemeteries, especially Muslim graveyards, are either full or illegally occupied. According to Nayeemullah Shareef from the Waqf Properties Protection Cell, families are struggling to find burial space, and in some cases, they’re even being denied access to cemeteries controlled by land grabbers.
The situation has made burials expensive. Families are now paying anywhere between ₹10,000 to ₹1 lakh just to lay their loved ones to rest. The cost often depends on how spiritually significant the graveyard is. In some cases, if there’s already a family member buried in a grave, and the family agrees, the deceased can be buried in the same spot—saving both space and money.
Caretakers are reportedly taking advantage of the crisis. Some are selling old graves for up to ₹30,000, especially in cemeteries located inside popular dargah premises. Activist Mohd Habeebuddin has urged the state government to step in. He wants a full survey of Muslim graveyards in Hyderabad, removal of illegal encroachments, and strict action against those demanding high prices for burial plots.
Habeebuddin also highlighted areas like Puppalguda, where graveyards are disappearing due to rapid urban growth. A cemetery that once spanned over nine acres, as recorded in a 1984 Gazette, has now shrunk to just 100 square yards. He claims this is due to encroachment backed by political support.
There have also been serious allegations against the Wakf Board. In 2020, the committee of Dargah Syed Ali Kulle Shah Darvesh in Petbasheerabad, under Quthbullapur, accused the board’s officials of collaborating with land developers. They alleged that a Wakf inspector and the CEO helped hand over graveyard land at Survey No. 39 to builders, who then took the matter to the High Court claiming ownership.
The controversy has sparked widespread concern, as more families face emotional and financial strain during a time of grief. Activists are demanding accountability and immediate government action to protect burial grounds from further loss.
