362 cremation grounds in Karnal lack basic facilities

Karnal, August 9

More than two years after the launch of ‘Shivdham Navikaran Yojana’, in all 362 crematoriums in the district lack basic facilities. Some of those don’t even have the facility of water and boundary wall.

As per the information gathered by The Tribune, there are around 1,070 cremation grounds in the district. Of those, 362 crematoriums are waiting for renovation.

Most of those do not have proper cleanliness as lots of bushes and shrubs have come up at many places. As many as 146 crematoriums do not have the facility of water, 84 are without boundary walls, 64 crematoriums have no sheds and 65 do not have a metalled approach road.

Among those that need renovation, 49 crematoriums are from Nilokheri block, 62 from Nissing block, 31 from Karnal block, 33 from Gharaunda, 20 from Kunjpura block, 41 from Munak, 31 from Assandh and 92 from Indri block. Three cremation grounds in the limits of the Karnal Municipal Corporation lack basis facilities.

In March 2018, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had launched ‘Shivdham Navikaran Yojana’ under which renovation and strengthening of crematoriums were to be done in the urban and rural areas of the state. The facility of water, construction of a maximum of two sheds and boundary wall, and a path to cremation ground were to be provided.

An official on the condition of anonymity said shortage of budget is one of the reasons behind the slow pace of renovation.

Karnail Singh, XEN Panchayati Raj, said that there were 1,051 cremation grounds in the various villages of the district which were to be renovated after the launch of this scheme. Of those, they have renovated 692 crematoriums. Sheds were constructed at 141 cremation grounds, boundary walls of 123 were made, water facility in 240 was provided and the path of 188 cremation grounds had been constructed. He said that the estimate for the remaining work is being prepared and the work would be completed at the earliest.

Nishant Kumar Yadav, Deputy Commissioner, said that he has recently reviewed the progress of this project and directions have been given to speed up the renovation of cremation grounds. — TNS

2 yrs after ‘Shivdham Navikaran Yojana’

In March 2018, CM Manohar Lal Khattar had launched ‘Shivdham Navikaran Yojana’ under which renovation and strengthening of crematoriums were to be done in the urban and rural areas of the state