‘Mukti Ratha’, a vehicle to shift mortal remains to cremation grounds, has been lying idle at the Mandya City Municipal Council (CMC) premises owing to the shortage of drivers.
The Force Motors-manufactured vehicle was procured at a cost of around ₹12 lakh by G. Madhusudan, the then MLC, under the Constituency Development Funds (CDF) and was donated to the CMC in 2014.
The vehicle might have hardly shifted around 20 bodies, sources at the CMC said.
While private van operators demand at least ₹4,000 to shift a body, the CMC collects ₹500. But, hardly a few are aware about the service, sources added.
According to Nagaraj, a resident of Tavaregere, one of his neighbours had telephoned the CMC recently to seek the services of the vehicle.
But, his request was turned down citing non-availability of drivers.
M. Mahesh, councillor representing Ward No. 10, wanted the CMC to hand over the vehicle to the Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS).
“I had raised the issue with the Commissioner (T.N. Narasimha Murthy) and other officials concerned on many occasions,” he told The Hindu .
According to him, the hospital witnesses many patient deaths every day, even from the neighbouring Ramanagaram and Tumakuru districts.
The poor cannot afford to pay a huge amounts for private vehicles to shift the bodies.
When contacted, a senior officer assured that the issue would be looked into.
There are around 20 graveyards at Anekere Beedhi, Melkote Road, Kallahalli, Udayagiri, Alanahalli, Yethagadahalli, Chikkegowdana Doddi, near Avalakki Mill in Chamundeshwari Nagar, Guthalu, and at some other places in the town.
According to the officer, the CMC will initiate measures to ensure the availability of the vehicle.
Those who need the vehicle can contact the council on 08232 – 224555 or 226749.
