MCD’s CNG crematorium at Bela Road has been out of operation for more than six months now. And the reason for the corporation’s inability to get repair work done is unique: the technician looking into the project is having heart trouble and is currently unavailable for carrying on the work.

The MCD cannot let a third party in either as it has a ten-year contract with the company for maintaining the crematorium.

The CNG crematorium has four pyres, all of which have been out of use for the past six months. The staff in-charge at the crematorium said they have approached the MCD’s Health department on several occasions, but no repairs have been undertaken till date.

MCD’s Health department said talks are on with the Bangalore-based company and the project will be operational in a month’s time.

“The technician who was handling the project has had a bypass surgery and at present we do not have anyone for the repair work,” said doctor M K Paul, who is looking after the project.

Paul also said they cannot let any other agency take up the work, which would amount to a breach of trust due to the existing ten-year contract.

MCD’s CNG crematorium at Sarai Kale Khan has also been closed for more than two months now. The Nigambodh Ghat crematorium was repaired and reopened just last week after remaining shut for months.

Sources in the MCD informed that the men on duty are not happy with the CNG set-up. “Cremation on a CNG pyre costs only Rs 500, whereas a regular pyre takes up the charges to Rs 3000. The staff on duty at these crematoriums also does not encourage people to cremate the dead on CNG pyres, in a bid to make more money,” said an MCD official on grounds of anonymity.

MCD Health Officer Dr N K Yadav, however, assured the crematorium will be operational in a month’s time.

“We have had a meeting with the company and have asked them to complete repairs and make the system operational as early as possible. Work will start in the coming week and the system would be operational by next month,” he said.