Ensure land for crematoriums are encroachment free: Belthangady MLA

DHARMASTHALA: Belthangady MLA Harish K Poonja said directions have been given to panchayat development officers (PDOs) in Belthangady taluk to ensure that land reserved for crematorium is not encroached up on. Highest number of crematoriums have been set up in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts and are functioning well, the MLA said, adding, the onus in now on the PDOs to ensure that the land earmarked is protected.

Handing over grants to crematoriums at a workshop organised by Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project on Thursday, Poonja said 501 crematoriums constructed under SKDRDP across the state are functioning well. “I will urge the government to allocate funds for this purpose through SKDRDP in future,” he said, while felicitating crematorium committees of Sachcharipete, Manjeshwar and Basavakalyan on this occasion.

Inaugurating the workshop, president of Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat Meenakshi Shantigodu said zilla panchayat will help in the construction of Hindu crematoriums through Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme. She advised the crematorium committees to develop the crematoriums with facilities such as rest rooms and ensure that it has fruit bearing plants and is properly landscaped.

L H Manjunath, executive director, SKDRDP in his keynote address gave information on the crematorium development scheme taken up through the project. So far, Rs 5.73 crore grants have been given for development of 501 crematoriums in the state, he said. Advising people to donate according to their ability for the purpose, he said cremating an unclaimed body is the most pious of acts. Fear and myths surrounding crematoriums must go, he noted.