BMC transfers cemetery management to ward offices

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is changing how cemeteries and crematoriums are managed. From now on, individual ward offices will take over these responsibilities from the health department. This decision was announced in a circular by Bhushan Gagrani, the civic chief, on Monday. Gagrani has called a meeting with assistant commissioners from all 25 wards to discuss the new management plan. Although wards will now handle maintenance, some duties will still belong to the Executive Officer of Health. These include issuing death certificates and providing supplies for cremations. The shift in responsibility follows Gagrani's visit to the Dadar crematorium, where he noticed several management issues, such as a lack of water and slow repairs. He realized that needing approval from the Medical Officer of Health was causing delays. By moving the oversight to the wards, the process should become faster and more efficient. The assistant commissioners will now oversee the budget for maintenance and repairs, which was previously managed by the Executive Officer of Health. This change aims to reduce delays in approving projects. Additionally, Gagrani has instructed the IT department of BMC to develop a new app. This app will provide real-time updates about the availability of cemeteries and crematoriums. It aims to help families avoid unnecessary trips during difficult times by ensuring they have accurate information about facility openings.