(Clockwise from top) Overgrowth at the Bidanasi crematorium in Cuttack, and local residents clear the bushes on Sunday. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Aug. 18: Residents of Bidanasi today cleaned up unwanted vegetation around a crematorium here.

Holding brooms in hand, the local residents and members of Bisweswar Pathagar and Bhuasuni Club launched a cleanliness drive inside the oldest crematorium on the western fringe of the city.

“We were forced to clean up the crematorium as the entire area was covered with unwanted vegetation,” said Bidanasi village committee secretary Kartik Chandra Behera.

People of wards 1, 2, 3 and some parts of CDA have been using the crematorium for long. Though a boundary wall was erected in 2003, the local residents alleged that the Cuttack Municipal Corporation never took any measure to carry out development works or upgrade infrastructure inside the crematorium.

“The civic body had constructed two rest sheds inside the crematorium in 2003. However, it never took any step for its maintenance. There is no proper drainage channel inside it, which causes acute waterlogging,” said Naba Kishore Das, a local resident.

Bidanasi residents also alleged that there were no lighting or drinking water facilities inside the crematorium.

Though there is another crematorium at Satichoura, the people of Bidanasi and its adjoining localities depend on this particular crematorium.

The local residents said that a memorandum would shortly be submitted to the corporation and the district administration to improve facilities inside the crematorium.

“There is no provision for supply of wood in the crematorium. All roads leading to it are also dotted with potholes,” said Ravindra Nath Kar, another local resident.

On the other hand, local councillor Nirupama Hati refuted the allegations and said that they always tried to maintain the crematorium properly.

“The local residents had prevented our staff to clean up the crematorium a few days ago. Their decision to carry out a cleanliness drive is politically motivated,” said Hati.