Not letting the Dead Rest in Peace

A Cartel that determines your death wish

If you are a Hindu in Visakhapatnam, and are at the age you see your, friends, near and dear one passing away, you know you have some problems to tackle if you have to arrange their cremation.

The City of Visakhapatnam has over 50 Hindu Cremation Grounds at different Locations. The Main Cremation Ground is located at Gnanapuram area.  In the absence of an electrical Crematorium facility, the bodies are cremated in the open involving firewood. On an average Gnanapuram Cremation ground receives 15 bodies in a day.

The Hindu public are left to the mercy of a family controlling Cremation ceremonies in Gnanapuram and other Hindu Crematoriums. The brothers have shared the grounds among themselves and you have no choice but to contact one of them for conducting the last rites of your dear ones. 

In April 2021, post the Covid crisis, an Electric Crematorium was installed in Gnanapuram at a cost of Rs.60 Lakhs. However vested interests have ensured that the Electric Crematorium remains non- operational and perhaps officials are being taken care of, to keep it that way. Why does the Vigilance department not find out why the equipment has remained non working? Do we need to still cut trees and pollute the air when there are more modern methods to do this?

Even the Hygiene at the Cremation grounds and their washrooms are pathetic. Good samaritans and NGOs have offerred to clean up the Cremation grounds, which GVMC has failed to do, but unfortunately the Mafia controlling the grounds, prefers to keep it that way.



To add insult to injury, GVMC now has permitted the Garbage collection Agency to park their dirty trucks inside all the Hindu Cremation Grounds. 

Death doesnt come by planning and the Mafia sure knows that any delay in cremation only results in better remuneration, and they plan to keep it that way, taking advantage of the sorrow of the near and dear ones. Girl Students at the nearby St Joseph college have seen half cremated bodies being thrown to the side to accomodate others. I am quite sure I picked up the right ashes of my father who was electrically cremated in another town. Not sure my children can be assured of that in vizag when they have to go the next day to pick up my ashes!!

I know death is a great leveller but in Vizag that is so true. Even the most powerful and rich in Vizag are all at the same dirty level, thanks to the apathy of the administration and that of our fellow citizens.


Comments

  1. Capt Rayudu MKFebruary 11, 2025 at 5:12 PM

    A sad situation !!. trust there sufficient awareness with the authorities concerned!! it would be good to tag the local elected corporator or the MLA as well. While age old practices, possibly started with a good intention, have over the decades seem to have resulted in entrenched interest groups who do not want change. The 'bone' of contention is whether this is a legally accepted practice by the authorities or is it more of a lack of "other" persons ready to do the religious practices of 'aparakarma'. GVMC however, is indeed called upon to ensure that the Electric Crematorium starts at the earliest, saving a lot of trees used for this life's last rite.

    ReplyDelete
  2. PilotthoughtFebruary 11, 2025 at 6:06 PM

    Sad to hear this. I thought AP was good with my past experience in Hyderabad. Some crematoriums in chennai are maintained by ISHA. Maybe you can mail them and see if it works. Chennai nowadays uses gas instead of electricity. Faster and no worries about load fluctuations.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Prakash PSSFebruary 12, 2025 at 6:22 AM

    Sad state of affairs indeed. GVMC has to wake up and bring in the electric crematorium.. Maybe, complaints should go to the District Connector as well.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Vizag Masterplan review-l

Todays news regarding the review of the Visakhapatnam Masterplan 2021 made by VMRDA, is a step in the right direction by the Govt.. Inspite of so many objections to the plan...and without addressing the concerns raised...the previous plan was pushed through. It was a gross disappointment for the citizen and advocacy groups who had taken efforts to review the plan in detail and see no response to their comments. The new dispensation has shown positive vibes particularly concerning the environment and we hope some of the concerns raised by the various city forums and activists will be addressed and responded to, in a democratic manner.
Read more

Lack of purposeful Action on Pollution in Vizag

The apathy of the civil administration of Vizag to the concerns of pollution has left the city literally breathless!! A single ride along the flyover from Chavalamadam along the Port Road is enough to damage your lungs for a lifetime - particularly if you are in an auto or two wheeler. Why is the civil administration not taking focussed action on Pollution - inspite of Vizag already having the dubious distinction of being one of cities with the poorest AQI in the country? Sometimes I wonder if it helps them get more grants on this pretext or perhaps arm-twisting abilities over the local industries  - that they would love it to continue. The only Air quality monitoring station data that is provided to the Centre, is that of the unit in GVMC office. Though AQM units are available in the rest of the city and in particular locations like Gnanapuram, this it not shared for obvious reaons. A typical case of Govt apathy is that of the Vizag Port . The NGT order of 2017 had mandated coveri...
Read more