The Hindu 07.09.2009
Erode crematorium bags ISO certification
Karthik Madhavan
Photo: Special Arrangement 
Recognition: The modern crematorium developed by the Erode Corporation in association with Aathma Trust. —
ERODE: The Erode Corporation has added yet another feather to its cap by securing ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification for the recently inaugurated modern crematorium.
On Tuesday, officials from Quest International Certification handed over the two certificates to Corporation Commissioner B. Balachandran.
The Corporation spent over Rs. 1 lakh for the certificates. Mr. Balachandran told The Hindu that the certification had made the civic body the “only one” in the country to bag both ISO 9001 and 14001 for a crematorium.
The Corporation developed the crematorium under the public-private partnership model in association with Aathma Trust at a cost of over Rs.3 crore. It opened the facility in November 2008.
The Commissioner said the crematorium operated on a build-operate-transfer model, with the Aathma Trust running the show at present.
It charged Rs.1,300 to cremate a body, including Rs.500 on transport.
Revenue
Since the inauguration, the crematorium has handled 1,325 bodies. He also said that the Corporation got 20 per cent of the revenue and in another 25 years, it would take possession of the facility.
After the certification, the Corporation had set its sight on bagging another ISO certification, this time for the Erode Corporation bus stand. Mr. Balachandran said the civic body was working on improving hygiene.
It was also engaged in installing a first-aid room, fire extinguisher, complaint box, identification boards, and so on.
