Puri: Several equipment of a modern crematorium, set up at Swargadwar cremation ground here at an expenditure of Rs 70 lakh, have begun to rust due to want of proper maintenance.
The municipal body of the city has written to the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) and the private agency that had designed the crematorium to repair the defunct equipment at the earliest.
The civic body initiated process to revive the modern crematorium after receiving flak from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) over pollution issues at Swargadwar cremation ground.
According to sources some vital equipment of the eco-friendly crematorium, including its chimney, has suffered extensive damage due to salty sea air. “Authorities concerned need huge amount of funds to repair the crematorium,” said a source.
People from across the state and outside usually prefer to conduct the last rites of their departed family members at Swargadwar cremation ground due to its association with the Jagannath culture. It is believed that a person attains immediate salvation, if the body is consigned to flames at Swargadwar. At least 50 bodies are cremated at the cremation ground on daily basis, sources said.
However, open cremation of bodies has led to large scale pollution in the locality. The eastern region bench of NGT had directed the SPCB and the civic body of the city to set up an eco-friendly crematorium at Swargadwar, while hearing a petition in this regard a couple of years ago.
Subsequently, the SPCB had established a modern crematorium at Swargadwar at an expenditure of Rs 70 lakh. Local MLA Maheswar Mohanty had inaugurated the crematorium, January 13, 2015. However, the crematorium has been lying unutlised for last several months, as people prefer open cremation of bodies. The civic body had announced monetary incentives to those who opt to cremate the bodies of their relatives at the modern crematorium.
“Only 50 to 60 bodies have been cremated at the modern crematorium since its inauguration. Many equipment of the crematorium have got rusted after coming in contact with salty air from the sea,” said a social activist.
When contacted, municipal executive officer Srikant Tarai said they have asked the SPCB to repair the crematorium at Swargadwar. “The project has failed to achieve its target due to people’s non-cooperation,” he rued.
PNN