Calls to speed up crematorium’s opening

The Sharjah Crematorium at Al Juwaiza area awaits ‘permission from the Sharjah Municipality’. Pawan Singh / The National

DUBAI // Residents have called for the opening of a much-needed crematorium in Sharjah to be accelerated after officials said they were still waiting for final permission from the emirate’s government.

Last month, the Indian Association Sharjah said the Hindu Sikh Crematorium had been given the go ahead to open after necessary clearances had been obtained and connections to run the gas-fuelled incinerators installed.

But on Tuesday the association backtracked and said it could take at least another four weeks before it can start accepting cremations.

“We are waiting for permission from the Sharjah Municipality,” said Biju Soman, treasurer of the association. “It has to be cleared by different departments, but we are in the last stages. We have been told that, after the Eid holiday, permission will come through. It should be open in a month.”

Once up and running the crematorium will be the fourth in the UAE.

Located in Al Juwaiza, opposite the Sharjah Cement Factory, it was built on 10 acres of land gifted to the community nearly five years ago by Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah.

Building only began in 2012 due to a lack of finance and permission. The Indian government contributed Dh500,000 with other funds raised by Indian businessmen in the UAE.

Residents said the clearances should not be delayed further.

“Many Hindu and Sikh families live here and would prefer to be cremated in the UAE,” said Jitendar Singh, who works with a local Sikh charity, Sarbat da Bhala (Welfare of Mankind).

“It should be operational as fast as possible. It costs Dh6,000 or more to repatriate a body to India, whereas if cremated here it would cost only about Dh2,000.

“Also, the paperwork is less if a body is cremated here. Officials should work together to get it working soon.”

The facility consists of two gas-fuelled incinerators that can each cremate up to three bodies a day. A separate burial ground is also allotted within the facility for children below the age of five to be buried, according to Hindu custom.

Mr Soman said the facility would be used to cremate bodies of unidentified persons, long-time residents and people with residence visas other than Sharjah.

“This would be helpful for some second or third generation Indians living here with no family back home.

“Dubai does not allow for the cremation of residents who hold visas from other emirates whereas the Sharjah government allows this on humanitarian grounds.”

It was originally thought that up to Dh6 million was needed to build the facility.

However, the association’s treasurer said the crematorium was finished for closer to Dh3.5m, with a substantial part of that donated by Dr Sheikh Sultan.

“The Ruler promised to give us Dh2.75m, apart from the land he has given,” said Mr Soman.

The facility will be staffed by two employees and running costs should amount to Dh8,000 a month.

The oldest crematorium in the country was opened in Dubai more than 65 years ago, followed by a second in Abu Dhabi about a decade ago, and a multi-faith crematorium in Al Ain two years ago.