Bhubaneswar, May 14: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has signed an agreement with city-based NGO Pradeep Seva Trust today to start functioning of another crematorium at Bharatpur Mouza, on the outskirts of the Capital City.

The agreement was signed by Shri Srimanta Mishra, Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) on behalf of the BMC and Smt. Madhusmita Prusty, Secretary, Pradeep Seva Trust at the BMC headquarters near Kalpana Square.

As per the terms and conditions, the license agreement shall be valid for a period of one year from the date of agreement and shall be extended to a further period upon satisfactory work performance of the NGO.

The crematorium, which will be under operation round-the-clock and 24/7, is a traditional one and will start functioning within a week, said Shri Mishra.

This graveyard can be used to cremate both COVID and non-COVID bodies, and maximum eight bodies can be cremated at one time by following the state Government guidelines.

The firewood will be arranged by the NGO and the NGO shall use the procured firewood for performing the cremation of the deceased on receipt of Rs 2, 500 only from the family member or relative of the deceased.

The NGO shall be allowed to procure Puja Samagri and other related material required for last rite rituals for its sale to public at par with market rate. The BMC will take suitable action in case any complaint received regarding high price charged by the NGO taking advantage of the situation.

Besides, the NGO shall maintain a register mentioning the list of the dead bodies cremated along with other details as per prescribed format and submit the same to the Assistant Engineer (AE) in charge of crematorium at the beginning of each month for the preceding month.

Bhubaneswar, May 14: Taking note of rising number of bodies and pressure on Satya Nagar crematorium, Bhubaneswar Municipal Commissioner (BMC) Sanjay Kumar Singh today visited the upcoming crematorium site in Patia to take stock of the construction works. He has instructed the officials to make the crematorium ready for operation from May 25 to help the city residents in performing the last rites without difficulty.

The Commissioner said the Patia crematorium is an LPG crematorium which will greatly help in cremation of bodies much faster than the traditional one. Patia crematorium has been designated for the cremation of deceased Covid-19 patients and suspects.

He has directed the officials to expedite the construction and make the crematorium ready within the deadline to lessen the burden on Satya Nagar crematorium.

Meanwhile, the lone electric burner at Satya Nagar, that had been lying defunct since August last week, has been repaired and is in use. The burden on the crematorium has increased due to restrictions on funeral at Puri Swargadwar. In a similar development, a crematorium in Bharatpur will become operational in a couple of days.