Hyderabad: Model crematorium works from next week

Hyderabad: The GHMC is planning to resume construction of model crematorium, which was paused due to a busy election schedule, from December 7 once the election process is completed after the results, say officials. The work was on the cards since three months.

The upcoming crematorium in the GHMC limits, with all basic amenities required for burial, along with washrooms and drinking water facilities, will have a budget of around Rs 4 crore.

The primary objective of the model crematorium is to break the chain of cremations which are becoming costly, because of which in the past seven months, hundreds of bodies were left in dump yards, as people could not afford to perform the last rites. "We want to change this situation, says G Nagender, Executive Engineer, Moosapet GHMC.

"We are currently developing 38 crematoria. Among them 31 are listed for development and 14 are being converted into model graveyards. The new crematoria will have facilities like most needed compound wall, parking, electrification, water, washrooms, seating, fresh-up area, burning platforms, prayer halls, ash storage and other necessary arrangements."

Persons belonging to any religion can use the crematoria. The GHMC is trying to ensure sufficient grave space for all religions, he added.

The condition of crematoria in Kazipet, Rampet, Manikonda, Rasulpura, Karmanghat and many other places of Hyderabad is quite pathetic. People from neighbouring houses throw garbage, making the burial grounds worse than ever.

"Piles of strewn garbage, water stagnation, wild growth, cow dung, debris and useless trash can be seen at most burial grounds in the city. We would be glad if the government does something useful like this," says Karthik Sai, a shopkeeper in Mettuguda.

Many crematoria in the city have been encroached and many lack basic facilities, like washrooms and water taps. As most don't have compound walls, they would get the facelift shortly.