Mourners flag fleecing at Karumandapam gas-fired crematorium

Residents in Tiruchi have complained of overcharging at the crematorium located at Karumandapam, operated by an outsourced agency, alleging that the practice had added to the financial burden of bereaved families.

The facility serves residents of Magupparai, Pirattiyur, and nearby areas. At least five bodies are cremated daily at the facility, which was opened in 2009.

A city-based agency has been engaged to maintain and operate the facility. As per the agreement, the agency has been permitted to collect ₹2,500 per cremation, of which ₹100 is paid to the Tiruchi Corporation. The agency is responsible for the upkeep and repair of machinery, including cremation chambers, furnaces, pollution control devices, and chimneys.

However, residents allege that the agency had been collecting ₹8,000 per cremation. They said if families were delayed in reaching the crematorium, the charges were increased up to ₹15,000.

“We are being asked to pay three or four times the prescribed fee, and if there is even a slight delay in reaching the crematorium, the charges are arbitrarily increased. Families have no option but to pay,” said T. Selvam, a resident.

Residents complain that the crematorium often remains closed due to repeated malfunctions in the furnaces and exhaust systems, forcing families to travel to Oyamari or Konakkarai for cremation.

Officials said the shortage of manpower at crematoriums had led to the decision to outsource their operations. Following complaints, the Mayor had directed officials to issue notices to agencies found to be indulging in such practices and to conduct inspections to ensure the proper maintenance of the facilities.

However, the Chennai-based agency that was entrusted to operate the crematorium at Karumandapam had now backed off. Subsequently, the Corporation had decided to hand over the facility to an agency that was already maintaining other crematoriums in the city.

At present, gas-fired crematoriums are functioning at Oyamari, Konakkarai, Ambedkar, Panjapur, Karumandapam, and Ariyamangalam. The maintenance of crematoriums, except Oyamari, had been outsourced with a prescribed charge of ₹2,500 per cremation.