Ganapathipuram crematorium in Tambaram devoid of essential amenities, hygiene | Chennai News

Chennai: The Ganapathipuram crematorium, located near 200ft Radial Road has remained neglected for several years. The premises are poorly maintained and lack essential infrastructure such as usable washrooms and modern cremation facilities. At least 10 bodies are cremated here every month, but the crematorium only has one platform. Unlike several others within Tambaram Corporation limits, the facility still relies on traditional firewood and lacks gasifier or electric systems. Announcements by Tambaram Corporation over the last five years, assuring upgrade to gasifier systems have not yet been fulfilled.Tambaram Corporation has around 60 crematoria in its limits, of which 25 are maintained by NGOs. Last year, the corporation increased burial and cremation charges by 500. The current charges are 5,000 and 3,000 respectively.When TOI visited the spot on Friday, the gates were locked and no security guards were seen. Residents went inside the crematorium premises to dump garbage by climbing the small steel gate. Overgrown bushes indicated corporation workers had not come by to prune them in a while. The only washroom on the premises was in a dilapidated building, in an unusable condition.M Karthik Raja, a resident of Chromepet, said, “Corporation officials have never visited the crematorium in the past five years. They say that it does not come under their jurisdiction.”M Gandhi, president of Pallavaram resident welfare association, said, “Many crematoria in Pallavaram and Chromepet are not monitored or inspected by the officials. Anti-social elements use them for illegal activities. Surveillance cameras should be set up and night patrolling should be carried out.”A senior corporation official said that while lack of funds delayed upgrades, a detailed project report (DPR) has now been prepared. “We are planning to restore facilities and install gasifiers at a cost of 3 crore,” the official said.