Uncertainty prevails over functioning of an electric crematorium located at Rajghat in the city. It has been lying out of order for about two months.
The electric crematorium, first of its kind in western Odisha, had been built with financial support from the Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), about three years ago. After formal inauguration, it was handed over to the Sambalpur Municipal Corporation (SMC) for its operation and maintenance.
But now for the second time it is lying defunct for a long time.
Earlier in December 2017, the crematorium was out of service for more than 50 days.
The electric coils of the machine are damaged and need replacement, the SMC sources said. The coils are not available in the local market.
The civic body has initiated the process to purchase new coils. Each coil will cost about Rs 50,000.
Many people and social organizations are critical about the callousness of the SMC stating that the officials were not serious about the matter. Despite visit of Collector Samarth Verma about a month back to the site, no steps had been taken to sort out the problems, social worker Subrat Panda said.
The people feel that the corporation should have taken the issue seriously and should have engaged any company or organization for its annual maintenance.
Today people are facing a lot of problems for cremation. There is scarcity of firewood and whenever available, it is of high cost. One has to spend around Rs 3,000 for firewood to cremate a body, said a leader of the voluntary organization.
Poor people are finding it difficult to arrange the firewood as the Forest Corporation has not opened any depot in the nearby areas.
The MCL had sanctioned Rs 1 crore for the electric crematorium. The State–run Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) was entrusted with the task of installing the electrical equipment. It was made operational in December 2015.