Even the dead have the right for their wishes to be respected. And what if the wish is incineration in a crematorium?
Well, for the bereaved relatives, fulfilling such wishes is tough in the capital. Lack of a functional crematorium in twin cities is putting families of the departed in an uncomfortable situation.
There are days when relatives are literally forced to form a queue to perform last rights at Bansilalpet cremation grounds. Same is the case at local cremation grounds at Punjagutta, Amberpet where, on many occasions, relatives wait for four to five hours to perform the last rites.
The load at such ‘Shmashana Vatikas' is huge, officials at cremation grounds agree.
“We checked three crematoriums at Bansilalpet, Amberpet and Eragadda and none of them were functional. In fact, Bansilalpet cremation ground officials said that this was the case for the last 20 months. It is strange that the city does not have a working crematorium,” complains Pushpa Lata, a bereaved relative.
Relatives maintain that waiting for long hours for the last rites at cremation grounds is unpleasant experience.
“We were hoping to use the crematorium but were informed about its unavailability. We had to wait for two hours for our turn,” says Manish Singh, relative of a deceased.
There are big plans in the pipeline to improve the situation. Plans, however, are yet to fructify thanks to the delays in taking up works in the existing crematoriums at Bansilalpet and Amberpet and two new facilities at Erragadda and Punjagutta.
In fact, in August, authorities had expected to open three electric crematoriums at Punjagutta, Erragadda and Bansilalpet in a month.
At present, however, these are in various stages of repair and construction.
“Trials are going on to test crematoriums at Erragadda and Amberpet.
The other crematorium at Punjagutta should be ready in a month and repair of the existing crematoriums at Bansilalpet and Amberpet are being taken up at a brisk pace. We are hoping to complete these works in the second phase of the 100 day programme,” says GHMC, Additional Commissioner (Health and Sanitation), Aleem Basha.
