Nagpur: The crematoriums (Ghats) in Nagpur have recently made headlines for firewood scams and other stark mismanagement. Once again, the ultimate resting places of city are hogging limelight and have become the talking point for another infamous notoriety. It has come to the fore that criminals are ruling the roost and the officials have become pawns. The crematoriums in Nagpur have turned hubs of several illegal activities.
Flesh trade @ Gangabai Ghat!
Speculations are gaining ground that Gangabai Ghat is ‘hosting flesh trade’ in the darkest hours of the night. All these ‘facts came to light’ reportedly during the inspection of city’s crematoriums by Mayor Pravin Datke recently, and expectedly, the Health Department and Garden Department of NMC drew severe flak from the Mayor.
It is pertinent to recall that after coming under fire over poor arrangements and facilities at different crematoriums in Nagpur, Mayor Pravin Datke had inspected Ambazari, Mokshadham and Gangabai Ghats recently and reviewed the working.
Irregularities rule the roost
The Mayor, during the inspection, had reportedly found mismanagement, garbage and ‘existence’ of anti-social elements at the Ghats. At Ambazari Ghat, the Mayor had even found an illegal stable for cows. In sum, the Mayor had inspected hellish conditions at the three Ghats with no basic facilities provided to the citizens and relatives coming to the Ghats for the last rites of their near and dear ones. Wild bushes, grass, dilapidated toilets, bathrooms, no regular water and electricity supply etc. were the cause of concern. Datke had also directed the officials to deploy armed guards for safety and security of the citizens coming to the Ghats.
Anti-social elements hit in dark hours
The Mayor had found himself bewildered when some of the accompanying officials murmured flesh trade allegedly being run from Gangabai Ghat in the dark hours. The employees of the Ghat were under the spell of constant terror unleashed by anti-social elements. The criminals are extorting money for from people coming for last rites for firewood and dung cakes and other services, allegedly in connivance of some NMC officials, said sources and added that the Mayor was contemplating to approach Commissioner of Police with a demand to set up Police Posts at some crematoriums. Sources further said that the Mayor has given the zonal Assistant Commissioners the responsibility to oversee the working of all the crematoriums in their jurisdictions. The Mayor has directed putting up of notice boards at the crematoriums mentioning names of respective Zonal Assistant Commissioners, Health Officers and Garden Department officials so that citizens facing problems can approach these officials.
