A section of councillors expressed dissatisfaction over Tiruchi Corporation’s move to outsource the operation and maintenance of crematoriums in the city.

During the council meeting here on Friday, Tiruchi Corporation tabled a subject to outsource the operation and maintenance of crematoriums at Oyamari and Karumandapam to private agencies. The resolution said that two agencies had been identified and they were instructed to collect ₹2,500 for cremation procedures and pay the Corporation ₹100.

The Councillors opposed the idea of outsourcing the maintenance and operation of facilities such as parks, bus terminus, and solid waste management, in the city. “The Oyamari and Karumandapam crematoriums are being  maintained by the Corporation for years. Since the facilities require only three workers, the civic body should consider maintaining it instead of handing it over to a private player,” said S. Suresh, Councillors of Ward 35.

Mayor M. Anbazhagan said there was a shortage of manpower and that the agency would take care of cleaning and repairing.

At present, gas-based crematoriums are functioning at Oyamari, Konakkarai, Ambedkar, Karumandapam, Panjapur, and Ariyamangalam. The maintenance of crematoriums at Konakkarai, Ambedkar, Panjapur, and Ariyamangalam had been outsourced to private agencies and ₹2,500 was charged for cremation.

However, the councillors pointed out that the there were complaints that the workers demanded an additional ₹1,000 from the public. The Mayor said that the operators had been warned against such a practice. Following opposition, the Council unanimously decided to postpone a decision on the subject.

Corporation Commissioner V. Saravanan and Deputy Mayor G. Dhivya were present.

During zero hour, Mr. Anbazhagan addressed the councillors’ grievances regarding the poor distribution of drinking water, frequent sewer blockage, damaged storm-water drain, absence of street lights, waterlogging, and bad roads.

V. Porkodi (Councillors of Ward No. 63), K. Suba (Ward No. 62) and K. Suresh Kumar (Ward No. 23) complained that the roads dug up for the underground drainage work and the roads damaged during the rain had not been relaid.

The Mayor said that ₹87 crore had been obtained for relaying 107 km of damaged roads. Only 4 km of underground drainage work was pending, and tenders for constructing storm-water drains for 12 km will soon be floated.

When Councillors pointed to the shortage of Junior Engineers, masons, and sanitation workers in their wards, the Mayor assured them to appointing personnel and assign a special team of workers for each ward.