MARGAO: The installation of a new 72-cabinet mortuary at the South Goa District Hospital has already resolved the burning issue of shortage of space for unclaimed bodies. However, disposing of the unidentified bodies has become a costlier affair. Every year Margao Municipal Council spends more than Rs one lakh in order to provide a final resting place to the unclaimed bodies.
Herald investigations reveal that since 2016 till date Margao civic body has disposed nearly 510 unclaimed bodies, spending around Rs 10 to 12 lakh. The civic body has also taken the task of disposing nearly 17 Covid bodies from the jurisdiction of Margao and Fatorda, mostly of beggars and migrants during the pandemic.
The issue pertaining to the shortage of units in Hospicio’s morgue has been in discussion by critics for several years. As a result, the people and mostly the police had to run from Hospicio to GMC and vice-versa in order to find space for unclaimed bodies. Over the years, the people of South Goa had to undergo the ordeal of shuttling with bodies, so much so that while the bodies were accepted at the GMC morgue, they had to be returned to Hospicio for the post-mortem examinations.
Many times GMC used to refuse to accept an unidentified corpse brought in by the police from South Goa. It was a result of the Hospicio morgue being filled with unclaimed bodies. On several occasions a tussle was created between the police and Margao Municipal Council, with regard to disposing of the bodies.
However, at present the disposing of unclaimed bodies has become a costly affair for the MMC, as the civic body on an average disposes nearly 100 dead bodies per year.
“Since 2016 to date MMC has disposed of 510 unidentified bodies. Few years before the council used to spend Rs 1,600 on disposing one body. However, in recent years the expenses have skyrocketed to Rs. 2,900 per body”, said Lyndon Pereira, Chairperson Margao Municipal Council.
He further said that MMC has a budgetary provision of Rs 1 lakh, however, the labour charges are increasing day by day. For the last five years, the civic body has spent nearly Rs 10 to 12 lakh only to dispose of the unclaimed bodies.
Of the Rs 2,900, labour charges amount to Rs 600/700, besides, Rs 2,000 for crematorium and Rs. 200 for clothes, Pereira informed.
MMC has also disposed of nearly 17 Covid bodies in recent times, at the cost of Rs 5000 per body.
“On district collector’s order, MMC has disposed of 17 unclaimed Covid bodies. Most of those bodies were of beggars infected by the Covid virus. However, the amount spent towards the Covid bodies has been reimbursed to the Municipality by the district administration”, he informed.
Reacting to the issue Dr Madhu Ghodkirekar, veteran forensics professional, said that authorities are facing tough times in order to dispose of the unidentified bodies.
“Few years ago there was a problem of shortage of space in the morgue and hence the pressure of disposing bodies had mounted on the Municipality. However, after the installation of the 72-unit mortuary at district hospital and arrangements at TB Hospital the issue has been resolved”, he stated.
“Basically, according to the law if nobody claims an unidentified body, either the panchayat or the municipality has to dispose of the bodies. Many times a person who does not have any relative dies in the hospital while being treated. The hospital administration then has decide whether to keep the body for medical research or otherwise inform the municipality to dispose it off”, he stated.
Dr Madhu praised the efforts of Margao Municipality in disposing the unidentified bodies on time in recent years.
Speaking to Herald on the issue Harish Madkaikar, DySP of Salcete, said that there is a set procedure to dispose of the unclaimed bodies and the Municipality has to bear the responsibility.
“Earlier the police also used to face tough time in order to handle the issue of unclaimed bodies. Now, there are no such issues”, he stated.
