Municipal counselors approved the acquisition of 37-hectare plot of land for the expansion of the cemetery as there are only 200 available places in Sfântul Lazăr cemetery in the capital. 

Accordingly, the land will be taken from the City Hall of Grătieşti for the sum of 40 million lei, money to be paid until 2022.

However, the new land does not resolve completely the problem. The best solution, officials say, is to construct a crematorium.

On average, there are 20 people buried in Sfântul Lazăr cemetery so other 200 free places will only be enough for more 10 days. 

The head of the Chisinau Funeral Services, Ludmila Botan, says that this additional land will only fix the situation for the next 15 years. Therefore, the authorities hope crematorium construction on that site. A draft decision on this issue will be presented shortly.

However, this incineration practice does not please the Orthodox church as well as lots of people, considering this as a sin. 

"I don't think that's good idea. We have to preserve the customs our ancestors have done",

Others, however, say that the graveyard is expanding rapidly, and under these circumstances, we need a crematorium.

"We can save the land when we build crematorium. It's normal in other countries."

We need at least one million euros for crematorium construction and a law regulating its activities.

Sfântul Lazăr cemetery in Chisinau was opened in 1964, has an area of about two million square meters and is one of the largest in Europe.