Assam: Dibrugarh British cemetary lies in a neglected state

DIBRUGARH: The century-old British cemetary situated in middle of Dibrugarh town has been in a neglected state. The cemetery, situated along Assam Trunk Road near India Club, covers an area of 68,608 square feet and measures 168 feet in length and 2,556 feet in breadth.

The grave of 29-year-old William Alexander Mackenzie Duncan, who was Deputy Commissioner of Dibrugarh (headquarters of undivided Lakhimpur district), also lies in the cemetery.

“The cemetary has lots of potential to become a tourist place but due to the lackadaisical attitude of the district administration, the century-old cemetary lies in a neglected state,” said a senior citizen.

It might be noted that some renovation work was done in the cemetary but the works were not up to the mark.

Earlier, the cemetary was under the care of ABITA, but a few years back it was handed over to Dibrugarh district administration. Sources added, “Recently, a renovation work was done in the cemetary but the work was substandard. The renovation work has been given to some local contractor but only plastering and cementing on the graves was done, nothing more has been done for the preservation of the cemetary.”

“Earlier also a fund from Zila Parishad was sanctioned for the renovation work of the cemetary but the fund was not properly utilized. As, a citizen of Dibrugarh, we want the place to be developed as tourist place but due to the negligence towards the cemetary, it could not come up as a tourist place,” alleged a Ranjan Dutta, a resident of Dibrugarh.

Infront of the cemetary, the place has been encroached by the shops, and now they have constructed pacca shops by encroaching the cemetary land. Even after knowing everything the district administration has failed to take any eviction drive. Altogether 103 British nationals were laid to rest in the cemetery built in 1862-63 at a cost of Rs 4,812. According to official records, the first person laid to rest was 33-year-old British corporal Thomas Trail. A grave of Britisher John Henry Wagentreiber of 1776 is also lying at the cemetery.

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