British-Era Cemetery in Nazira to Undergo Restoration

The historic British-era cemetery in Nazira is set for a revival, driven by the efforts of local MLA and Leader of the Opposition, Debabrata Saikia.

A six-member committee, headed by the Nazira Co-District Commissioner, will oversee the “Development of British Period Cemetery at Nazira” project. Saikia has allocated ₹5 lakh from the MLALAD fund for its conservation, with technical support from the PWD (Building) department, Sivasagar.

The cemetery, housing 60 graves of British oil industry figures from the 19th and 20th centuries, has faced decades of neglect. Saikia initiated action after seeking a status report from the State Directorate of Archaeology, which inspected the site in December 2024 and highlighted its historical significance.

The British Association for Cemeteries in South Asia (BACSA) has offered to assist with the conservation effort.