With crematorium being used as dump yard, residents of Karuppayurani bid unpleasant farewell to dear ones

Residents of Karuppayurani panchayat in Madurai face the distressing reality of a crematorium doubling as a dump yard.

 The residents of Karuppayurani panchayat in Madurai east panchayat union are forced to bid an unpleasant farewell to their dear ones as the crematorium in the panchayat is also used as a dump yard for disposing of waste collected from around 19 villages. 

Family and acquaintances who visit the place accompanying the mortal remains of their dear ones to fulfil the last rites expect a clean and hygienic environment.  

Conservancy workers who were dumping the collected waste in the crematorium when The Hindu visited the location said they had been using the same location for more than 10 years.  

Though residents complain of the unpleasant environment every now and then, the panchayat due to unavailability of vacant land continues to use the crematorium premises, according to the workers.  

While the degradable waste would be removed from the dump yard to be used for producing manure in the micro composting centre situated contiguous with the crematorium, non-biodegradable waste is dumped in a separated area on the same premises.  

Sometimes, if the crematorium was not locked, local body workers would also dump waste at the site, alleged the worker.  

When the workers had the practice of burning the waste at the same crematorium to get rid of the waste, with repeated complaints from the residents and activists, the burning practice was stopped, said the worker.