AP: Unclaimed bodies to be cremated

HYDERABAD: GHMC commissioner MT Krishna Babu has directed the authorities concerned to ensure that unclaimed bodies are cremated without delay and before they decompose.His direction came after holding a review meeting with the superintendents of Gandhi and Osmania hospitals, representatives of Satya Harischandra Foundation and officials of health and sanitation wing of GHMC. Police, hospitals, NGOs and GHMC staff should bear equal responsibility on this issue, he said.He said the GHMC was very much concerned about the physical condition as well as media reports carried by The New India Express on the unclaimed bodies a few days ago and said laxity on anyone's part would not be tolerated.Krishna Babu asked the hospital superintendents to prepare a draft protocol, defining activities to be taken up by various departments at regular intervals, basing on which a government order can be formulated.On enquiry it came to the commissioner's notice that on an average both the hospitals get five unclaimed bodies each per day and it takes an ahour and a half to burn a body in an electric crematorium.When the officials informed the commissioner that except the Banjara Hills crematorium all others would be ready by this month end (Amberpet in one week, Bansilalpet in 15 days), he asked to complete the Banjara Hills crematorium work also by this month end.The commissioner ordered speedy payment of 10 percent of supervision charges to APCPDCL if it stopped the work for want of payment. He also advised the officers to bring the issue to his notice if electricity consumed at crematoria is billed as commercial.He also expressed his shock over the mishaps that are taking place at the Osmania hospital with regard to unclaimed bodies.