The defunct electric crematorium at Harmu Muktidham is likely to function again from May 5 after the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) roped in a social outfit, Marwari Sahayak Samiti, to repair and operate the facility.
The RMC decided to revive capital’s only electric crematorium in the wake of the law and order problems faced by the district administration officiials during the burial of the city’s first Covid-19 fatality from Hindpiri on April 12.
The local residents had resisted the burial of the body in the graveyard in their locality, fearing that it would spread the virus.
Ranchi deputy mayor Sanjeev Vijayvargiya said: “We wish speedy recovery of all who have been tested positive. The Hindpiri incident came as a shock when the locals refused allowing a dignified last rites of the deceased. The situation has become so bad that people are now doubting even the natural death.
“In the wake of that incident RMC decided to revive the electric crematorium. RMC has already removed encroachments and a boundary wall will be constructed to protect the crematorium area. Rs 23 lakh has been sanctioned for this purpose,” the deputy mayor said. “We want to make this operational as early as possible. MSS has been asked to revive the crematorium which will be operated through LPG rather than electric power.”
This lone electric crematorium was commissioned in 2007 worth Rs three crore and became operational in 2008.
The Ranchi Regional Development Authority had granted fund for the crematorium.
But due to technical snags, its services were not smooth and was declared completely defunct in 2010.
In 2013, RMC had approached an NGO, Citizen Foundation, to operate this electric pyre.
Citizen Foundation, before undertaking the project, had hired Alltech Industrial Electric Crematorium for technical survey. The survey report said that at least Rs 1crore would be require for the revival. The crematorium would not be of much use if the substandard equipment are not replaced, the report had pointed out.
Since 2010, RMC floated a tender on a dozens of occasion but no private party showed any interest.
Last year the Marwari Sahayak Samiti had approached the RMC and the then urban development secretary Ajoy Kumar Singh to revive the crematorium.
“RMC has asked us revive this and we have started the repairing and other necessary works,” said Samiti president Suresh Agrawal.
“We hope by May 5 we will be able to make it functional. We had consulted technical experts from Patna and Delhi. This will be operated on LPG. One body can be burnt with 15l of LPG and will take around one and half hours. This is completely safe,” said Agrawal.
Asked about the expected cost of renovation, Agrawal said: “We have not calculated the total costing yet. But we are in a position to mobilise the necessary funds.”
