Residents demand opening of newly-constructed crematorium at Ward 34 in Salem city

Residents of Ward 34 in Salem city have demanded opening of the crematorium constructed a year-and-a-half ago.

In November 2021, Salem Corporation invited tenders for constructing a crematorium at Ward 34 at ₹2.48 crore under the Central Grant Fund. The work started in March 2022, but due to issues with the contractor, it was stopped. The cost was revised to ₹1.5 crore in 2023-24, and the work order was issued on August 14, 2024. Though the crematorium construction was completed by the end of 2024, it remained closed. Following the public demand, a trial run was conducted on September 24 this year. Yet, it remains shut.

P. Samy, a resident of Jothi Talkies Road, said residents of Ammapet and nearby areas have used this burial ground, irrespective of caste, for several decades. For the past five years, people take bodies to Kakkaiyan crematorium, four km away from Ward 34. Last month, Transport Minister A. Vijay Tamilan Parthiban inspected the crematorium, and his party members claimed on social media platforms that due to action taken by the Minister, the crematorium was opened. But even after that, it was not opened, he added.

Ward 34 councillor (DMK) Esan D. Elango said that people residing in Ponnammapet, Ammapet, and Kitchipalayam used this burial ground. As the construction work began, people took bodies to Kakkaiyan crematorium. The equipment was installed in this crematorium two years ago. Based on a resolution brought in March 5 this year, the operational works of the crematorium were awarded to a private NGO. But, the Corporation has not taken steps to inaugurate it.

“We do not know why the Corporation is not allowing operation of the crematorium. The equipment installed might get repaired due to the delay. The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board gave its nod to operate the crematorium two years ago. If it is not opened in one week, the public will stage a protest,” he warned.

Corporation officials said that a borewell should be sunk for the crematorium and the ash-emitting pipeline should be altered. Soon, the works will be completed and it will be opened for public use, they added.