The Municipal Corporation of Yamunanagar-Jagadhri has initiated a review of facilities at cremation grounds across its jurisdiction, with Municipal Commissioner Mahabir Prasad directing officials to speed up development and maintenance work at sites where basic amenities are inadequate.

A review meeting was held to assess the condition of all 52 cremation grounds falling within the municipal corporation area. During the meeting, officials were asked to provide details about the availability and condition of seating arrangements, cremation sheds, firewood storage facilities, toilets, drinking water, boundary walls and roads leading to the cremation grounds.

The civic body’s focus is on ensuring that people visiting these facilities for last rites do not face avoidable difficulties. The commissioner directed officials to address deficiencies, repair damaged infrastructure and improve cleanliness and maintenance at the cremation grounds.

Development projects at several cremation grounds

During the meeting, Executive Engineers Vikas Dhiman, Harish Kumar and Mandev Kumar briefed the Municipal Commissioner about the status of ongoing and proposed development works at several locations.

At Nabha cremation ground in Ward No. 4, an estimate of Rs 54.05 lakh has been prepared for construction of the approach road and the project is under the tender process. At Bhagwan Garh, an estimate of Rs 47 lakh has been proposed for the road leading to the cremation ground and the tender process is underway.

An estimate of Rs 25 lakh has been prepared for renovation work at the cremation ground in Tapariya, Mandkheri. At Jammu Colony cremation ground, a Rs 37.01 lakh proposal has been prepared for a boundary wall and cremation shed. The project is currently awaiting technical approval.

Multiple sites at different stages of work

According to the officials, development work estimated at around Rs 25 lakh is also being processed for the cremation ground at Aurangabad. At Mandebari, work estimated at Rs 7.40 lakh is under process, while proposals worth Rs 19.47 lakh at Kheri Rangran and Rs 6.91 lakh at Ramnagar Kheri Rangran are also at different stages of implementation.

For Kansapur cremation ground, an estimate of Rs 25 lakh has been prepared under the D-Plan and is currently at the rate approval stage. At Kansli, another proposal of Rs 25 lakh has entered the tender process.

At the Amarpuri cremation ground on Sassouli Road, the toilet construction work remains incomplete. Officials have been asked to prepare an estimate so that the pending work can be taken forward.

Commissioner directs officials to improve basic amenities

Municipal Commissioner Mahabir Prasad directed officials to ensure that all cremation grounds lacking basic facilities are provided with the necessary infrastructure. He stressed that damaged or deteriorated facilities should be repaired and that cleanliness arrangements should receive regular attention.

The commissioner said people visiting cremation grounds during the final rites of family members should not have to face inconvenience because of inadequate civic facilities. He instructed officials to accelerate the pending works and maintain regular inspections to ensure that approved projects are completed properly.

The review of all 52 cremation grounds is expected to provide the civic body with a broader picture of infrastructure requirements across the municipal corporation area. The emphasis on approach roads, sheds, sanitation, drinking water, boundary walls and other basic amenities is aimed at improving the overall condition of these public facilities.

Focus on timely execution and regular monitoring

With several projects already at the tender, technical approval, rate approval and estimate-preparation stages, the municipal administration has been asked to maintain coordination between engineering and administrative teams so that the works can move forward without unnecessary delays.

Regular monitoring will also be important once the projects enter the execution stage. The commissioner has directed officials to inspect the facilities periodically and ensure that infrastructure created through public funds remains functional and properly maintained.

The civic body’s review represents an effort to address a category of public infrastructure that often receives less attention than other municipal services but remains essential to residents. By focusing on basic facilities and access roads across the 52 cremation grounds, the municipal corporation aims to make the last-rites facilities more accessible, functional and better maintained for citizens.