Services at Nimtala Ghat stalled for 3 hours

Kolkata: Services at Nimtala Burning Ghat in North Kolkata got disrupted for nearly three hours on Monday over dispute between two non-governmental organizations over the contract of the crematorium.

People coming for performing the last rites found the entry gate under lock and key and soon, a queue was observed infront of the burning ghat.

Some of them were compelled to go to other crematoriums because of the delay.

According to the sources, the responsibility for the maintenance of the burning ghat as well as the supply of wood has been bagged by a

new NGO.

The NGO that was earlier responsible for the maintenance put the gate under lock and key to prevent the new organisation from carrying on with their duties.

Member Mayor-in-Council (Health) Kolkata Municipal Corporation who oversees the burning ghats in the city reached the spot and with the intervention of the police and local councillors Bijoy Upadhyay and Sikha Saha broke open the gate and entered the premises.

The North Port police station arrested two persons from the spot.

"We carry out renewal of the tender for maintenance of the burning ghats after three years. The tender has been bagged by a new NGO through proper procedures and the work order has already been handed over to them. This has aggrieved the NGO that was earlier involved in the maintenance and as per reports, the latter had put this place under lock and key. The security guards were forced to close the gates," Ghosh said.

According to him, the services of the crematorium is an emergency and stalling of such services will be dealt with strongly.