Civic neglect turns crematorium into dumping ground in Arnala

The apathy of civic officials of Arnala village, which is located on the mouth of the Vaitarna, has forced its residents to bury their dead amidst garbage. The Hindu crematorium, known as Vaitarneshwar and considered to be a sacred cremation ground for the population of Vasai and Virar residents, has turned into nothing less than a dumping ground, residents have claimed.

Arnala is a governed by a gram panchayat and is a part of 27 other villages, which are dependent on a uniform body to address their civic problems. Ninad Patil, a Mumbai police employee and resident of the village, raised the issue recently when he accompanied a funeral procession to the crematorium. Mr Patil who, along with a group of 40 residents, has been involved in cleaning activities, said that the holy crematorium lies in shambles.

“The population of the village is about 25,000-30,000 but the crematorium is not only the solemn option for the villagers but it is also visited by residents staying in about 15-20-km periphery because of its sacred value to bury the dead. In every religion, crematoriums are given as much importance as a temple,” said Mr Patil.

Other locals said there has been widespread fury about civic officials who have turned a blind eye to their complaints. “The garbage is dumped on the site under broad daylight because the duping ground is about one and half kilometre away from our village. Only day before we accompanied a funeral procession and it was almost impossible to even stand at the crematorium due to the stench of garbage,” said another resident Parag Mhatre.

Rajkumar Lokare, from Arnala gram panchayat, said that there is about 7-8 tonnes of garbage created monthly and they have no alternate arrangements to dump the same. “We had met the commissioner to request the municipal corporation to pick up the garbage. Moreover, while the garbage is dumped near the seashore, due to strong winds it goes inside the crematorium. As soon as the municipal corporation starts picking up the garbage the issue will be resolved,” said Mr Lokare.