The State government has constituted a bid evaluation committee for setting up of electric hybrid crematoriums in New Shillong, Jowai, Nongpoh and Tura.
The Director, Urban Affairs is the chairman of the committee.
The members include the Chief Executive Officer of Shillong Municipal Board, Chief Executive Officer of Tura Municipal Board, Chief Executive Officer of Jowai Municipal Board, Chairman of Nongpoh Town Committee, Environmental Engineer of Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board, and Superintending Engineer of Directorate of Urban Affairs. The Executive Engineer, Directorate of Urban Affairs is the member secretary of the committee.
It may be mentioned that on September 23, the Meghalaya High Court had asked the State government to report on cremation facilities available in Meghalaya.
The court said the State will have to report on the cremation facilities available in Shillong, Tura, Jowai, Nongstoin and Nongpoh.
The directive by the High Court came after a PIL was filed by the Seng Khasi Hima Mawsynram.
“It is necessary to ensure that there are adequate facilities available not only in Shillong but elsewhere in the major towns in the State to afford a dignified process of cremation or burial,” the court said.
The division bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice B Bhattacharjee said that such facilities should be available for all the major communities in the State including the tribes; so that the last rites can be performed and traditional customs adhered to with a degree of dignity and in a quiet atmosphere.
“The State should make every endeavour to augment the existing facilities, including setting up of electric crematoria, if necessary. Care should be taken to ensure that environmental concerns are also addressed,” the division bench had said.
