Administrative Lapses Stall Electric Cremation Services

Kotpad: Two electric cremation machines worth nearly Rs1.5 crore are on the verge of becoming scrap due to administrative apathy. Whether it is the negligence of the administration or the lack of willpower among community members, the project now appears to be a waste of government funds, drawing concern and criticism from local intellectuals.

According to sources, during the COVID-19 pandemic—when even family members were hesitant to touch the bodies of their loved ones—the then Odisha government, through the Odisha Small Industries Corporation, invested around Rs1.5 crore to install two electric cremation units for safe disposal of deceased persons. These were constructed under the supervision of the Kotpad Notified Area Council (NAC).

However, instead of focusing on the broader needs of the public, then Executive Officer Alok Chandra Samantaray allegedly prioritized only the Brahmin and Karan communities of the region, showing unwarranted favoritism in the location and construction of these units.

Ironically, though the construction was completed, the cremation machines have remained unused to date and are deteriorating due to lack of maintenance. The primary reason is the unresolved dispute between the local NAC administration and the two mentioned communities, with each side pointing fingers at the other. While the NAC claims the machines were handed over to the respective communities, the communities assert that no official handover or documentation has occurred.

This blame game between the administration and community groups has put a significant amount of public money at risk. Despite repeated requests by local representatives such as councilors and NAC officials, including Chairman Bishnu Palatis and others, there has been no official clarification on the matter.

Intellectuals and local residents are now urging the administration to make the machines operational before the equipment is completely ruined, emphasizing the need for immediate action to avoid total loss of this valuable infrastructure.