Identify area for crematorium outside Cuttack for cremation of persons who die of Covid: OHRC to govt

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has asked the state government to identify an alternative area outside Cuttack city for cremation of persons who die of Covid to address the issue of air pollution because of cremations done in crematoriums inside the city.
Hearing a petition filed by lawyer Pradip Patnaik, the rights panel on Wednesday passed an order directing the Cuttack collector and Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) commissioner to take steps for addressing issues of crematoriums in the millennium city.
The petitioner had alleged that crematoriums have not been properly maintained with the facilities and amenities. Authorities are not taking proper care for smooth management of cremation grounds in Cuttack. In many crematoriums situated in Cuttack, there is no proper lighting arrangements, lack of space and fire woods.
In its order, the commission observed that people pass the Sati Chaura crematorium at one of the main roads of Cuttack and get exposed to the bizarre scene at the cremation ground. “Apart from making availability of fire woods, immediate steps being taken to cover the site with a considerable height so that the scene of burning of corpses not exposed to the general public. Extensive lighting system shall be made in both the cremation grounds (Covid and non-Covid),” said the order.
The commission asked the authorities to take steps for cleaning the cremation/burial grounds everyday. “Cremation of body generates harmful air pollutants like Sulphur dioxide and Nitrogen dioxide and volatile organic compounds. This pollutants could have severe effect on the surroundings and human lives. We recommend the authorities to identify an alternative area on the outskirts of the city for cremation of dead bodies of Covid affected patients with all facilities and proper lighting,” said the order.
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