The civic administration is looking for other crematoriums — apart from the one at Dhapa — to cremate bodies of Covid victims. The only Covid-designate crematorium at Dhapa often remains overburdened. The civic authorities chose a time at night when there will be none near the crematorium at Metiabruz. But the plan finally could not be materialized.
However, sources in the KMC health department said the civic body is already looking for alternative crematoriums. After suggestions from some senior KMC officials, the civic body might also try to arrange for dedicated furnaces at city crematoriums. “Knowing the nature of protests from people staying close to crematoriums, we now look for crematoriums located relatively in less populated areas,” said a civic official.
Among the major crematoriums in the city, the civic officials felt a couple of furnaces at the old complex of Nimtolla could be used for cremation. “Some other choices include Siriti and a crematorium on the banks of the Hooghly close to Nimtolla,” said an official.
Kolkata Police said that they have now decided on a set protocols for cremation even as they are trying to collect local inputs from Metiabruz, Siriti and Nimtolla to ascertain if any furnace can be used for cremation. While the KMC control room will keep an eye on hearses, police traffic control room will keep a tab on the movement of these hearses once they leave hospitals. Cops have also requested hospitals to release bodies all through the day. “We have decided to increase the frequency even in the morning to ensure we have minimum backlog,” explained an officer at Lalbazar. But, a KMC source maintained that the cremation at Dhapa might not be done in the morning as that would put a section of KMC solid waste management department workers at risk.
Three teams from Lalbazar, Pragati Maidan PS and Beliaghata traffic guard have been given two jobs — to ensure bodies reach Dhapa after all rules are followed and manage relatives’ movement to and from Dhapa.
