Mumbai: A crematorium lost to MBMC apathy

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Bhayandar: Take a few steps down the road towards the crematorium on the outskirts of Ghodbnder village and you will be appalled at the state of this domain of the dead. A broken pyre which is lost amidst overgrown shrubs, there is neither availability of drinking water, electricity nor any shelter or place to sit, the lone crematorium in Versave, a tribal dominated hamlet, speaks volumes about the utter neglect by the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) and insensitivity of those in power.

To expose the apathy Anu Patil, a young MNS leader chose a crematorium in Ghodbunder village as the venue to celebrate her birthday in a symbolic manner. “For a long time now we have been demanding basic facilities, however, the authorities have little time to spare a thought for its dead. The civic chief has assured to do the needful, let’s see if this move drills some sense in the mind of officials,” laments Patil who heads the party’s women’s wing in the Ovala-Majiwada assemble segment.

She also donated chairs, benches and stand-by lighting equipment’s to ease some woes of villagers. Be it heavy rains during monsoon or the scorching summer heat, villagers have no other option but to perform the last rites of the departed soul under the open sky.

Despite earmarked funds for the purpose, the MBMC which boasts of a Rs.1,500 crore budget falls back on the stereotype excuse that the region falls under forest cover which prohibits them from taking up any type of constructions needed to enhance amenities in the  crematorium.