No more fee collection at Thanjai crematoria, announces Mayor

Thanjavur: According to official sources, there are three crematoria in Thanjavur City Corporation limits located at Shantivanam on Medical College Road, Rajagori near Vadakku Vaasal and Marikulam on Pookara Street. A fee of Rs 3,500 was being charged for the cremation at these facilities.

However, as a mark of respect to the departed souls, the civic administration has decided not to collect any fee in all these crematoria.

Accordingly, an MoU was signed between the civic administration and a Chennai-based NGO to take charge of Shantivanam crematorium for free of cost as a first step in this direction.

“We have initiated this step to give an honourable send off to the departed souls and this service will be extended to the other two crematoria also soon,” said Mayor Shan Ramanathan after inspecting the ongoing renovation work at Shantivanam facility.

The Mayor claimed that this is the first of its kind measure in the state, and said that a memorial for 1,300 persons who lost their lives to COVID-19 buried in Shantivanam site would be constructed soon and the victims’ kin can pay homage to their dear ones on their memorial days as and as and when they want, he said.