The nationwide lockdown that brought 1.3 billion people to standstill has apparently caused positive changes in the environment. In State Capital, what district administration and Ranchi Municipal Corporation had failed to do in 10 years, the COVID-19 crisis has made area around Ranchi Electric Crematorium in Harmu encroachment free. Few days back the area was encroached by khatals (cowshed) and those selling sugarcane juices, but in lockdown period most of the encroachers has left making the area encroachment free.
Now as the area is free from any type of encroachment, efforts are on to restart the electric crematorium at Harmu Mukti Dham, which has been lying defunct since 2010.
Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) Municipal Commissioner, Manoj Kumar said, “As the area around electric crematorium at Harmu Mukti Dham is now encroachment free we have decided to restart it again. On this issue we had discussion with Marwari Sahayak Samiti.”
The municipal commissioner further said that the Marwari Sahayak Samiti, which also manages the affairs of Mukti Dham in Harmu has come forward in running the electric crematorium and they have put forward three demands.
The Samiti had demanded to make the area encroachment free, construction of portion of broken boundary wall and payment of electric dues of Rs 24 lakh. The municipal commissioner claimed that they have assured the Marwari Sahayak Samiti that most of the demands will be met so that the crematorium becomes functional within 30 days.
Sources said that as the area is encroachment free, the RMC will soon issue a tender for construction of broken boundary wall also electric dues will be made by municipal body.
Sources said that the Marwari Sahayak Samiti has discussion with company for running the crematorium. Sources said that instead of electric, gas based machine will be installed in the crematorium. Sources said that gas based crematorium is fuel efficient and is much modern than electric based.
The crematorium was built in 2007 at a cost of Rs 3 crore and inaugurated the next year. But only 11 bodies could be cremated there since people stopped using it, some claiming they preferred the traditional way of lighting a funeral pyre. By 2010, it became completely defunct.
In absence of electric crematorium traditional way of lighting a funeral pyre is practiced. More than 300kg wood is required to cremate a body. Thus, keeping environmental aspects in mind, electric or gas based crematorium is worth welcoming.
Sources said that on earlier occasion too, the RMC had taken steps to restart electric crematorium, but due administrative hurdles the project failed to start.