Sat May 31 02:35:42 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
Tiruchi Corporation’s proposal to outsource the operation and maintenance of two crematoriums in the city faced strong opposition from councillors during a council meeting. Councillors expressed concern over handing over responsibilities to private agencies, citing existing issues with outsourced crematoriums demanding extra charges from the public. While the Mayor cited manpower shortages as the reason for outsourcing, councillors argued the Corporation could maintain the facilities themselves. Other grievances raised during the meeting included issues with water distribution, sewer blockages, road repairs, and lack of personnel. The Council ultimately postponed a decision on the crematorium outsourcing issue.
**News Article:**
**Tiruchi Councilors Reject Crematorium Outsourcing Plan Amid Service Concerns**
TIRUCHI, May 31, 2025 – A proposal by the Tiruchi Corporation to outsource the operation and maintenance of the Oyamari and Karumandapam crematoriums was met with stiff resistance from councillors during a heated council meeting on Friday. The plan, which would have seen private agencies collect ₹2,500 per cremation while paying the Corporation ₹100, was ultimately postponed following concerns over potential service quality and extra charges levied on grieving families.
Councilors voiced strong opposition, pointing to existing issues with privately operated crematoriums demanding an additional ₹1,000 from the public, despite warnings from the Mayor’s office. S. Suresh, Councillor of Ward 35, argued the Corporation should continue maintaining the facilities directly, especially considering the relatively small workforce required.
Mayor M. Anbazhagan defended the outsourcing plan, citing manpower shortages and the need for enhanced cleaning and repair services. However, this did not assuage the concerns of the council, who felt that essential services should not be handed over to private entities.
The meeting also addressed a range of other pressing civic issues, including complaints about inconsistent water distribution, frequent sewer blockages, delayed road repairs following underground drainage work, and inadequate street lighting. Several councillors highlighted the lack of Junior Engineers, masons, and sanitation workers in their respective wards.
The Mayor assured the council that ₹87 crore had been allocated for relaying 107 km of damaged roads and that tenders for storm-water drains would be issued soon. He also pledged to address the personnel shortages by appointing additional staff and assigning special teams to each ward.
The Council, with Corporation Commissioner V. Saravanan and Deputy Mayor G. Dhivya in attendance, will revisit the crematorium outsourcing proposal at a later date.
First Piper 