Seeking to reduce air pollution and popularise mechanised crematorium, Puri Municipality has launched a scheme which offers incentive to next of kin of the dead
Post News Network
Puri: It only happens in rare instances that the death of a person leaves their kin richer, no matter by how much. But now, in the holy town, there is going to be a guarantee about it for every death only if the kin of the dead cremate the bodies in the eco-friendly crematorium here.
Puri Municipality has decided to pay an incentive of Rs 500 to the next of kin of every dead person for choosing to cremate the body at the modern crematorium at the Swargadwar cremation ground. The civic body hopes the incentive would help attract more people to use the crematorium and reduce the high number of open cremations in the town, which contribute significantly to air pollution.
The crematorium, set up at a cost of `70 lakh, has failed to deliver the expected results ever since it was opened for use. People are still reluctant to cremate the bodies of their near and dear ones at this mechanised facility. Open cremation of bodies at Swargadwar remains so popular that it seems to be the norm.
The municipal body had set up the crematorium after National Green Tribunal (NGT) expressed concerns over high levels of air pollution in the locality. The green body had found open cremation of bodies largely responsible for the air pollution.
“People from across the state prefer to cremate the bodies of their relatives at Swargadwar. However, open cremation of bodies has resulted in a steep rise in air pollution in the locality. So we have decided to provide a financial incentive to popularise the crematorium,” said an official of Puri Municipality.
With the Swargadwar cremation ground close to the beach witnessing huge rush at most times, the municipal body also plans to establish another cremation ground near the site.
“At a recent meeting of the municipality, proposals were approved for renovation of two market complexes in the town and payment of financial assistance to poor families for construction of latrines,” added the official.
According to sources, the council meeting also approved a proposal to relocate vegetable sellers from Grand Road to a market complex maintained by the civic body. A proposal for maintenance and repair of LED lights installed at major squares of the town was also approved by the council.