In an updated post in their website, National Environmental Agency (NEA) stated that the last day for submission of claim registration for niches in Mount Vernon Columbarium (MVC) is 30 June 2017. Visitors were still allowed to visit the niches during Qing Ming on Wednesday as the physical re-location of niches in MVC by the Government contractor has not commenced.
The Mount Vernon Columbarium, which is located at in Upper Aljunied Road, will be cleared to make way for the development of Bidadari Estate announced by the Housing & Development Board (HDB) in 2013.
The complex used to house the government-managed crematorium until it moved to Mandai in 2004. It has six halls to hold wakes and is also home to more than 20,000 niches stored in the columbarium blocks.
NEA stated claimed niches will be relocated to Mandai Columbarium (MC), unless claimants opt for niche relocation to Choa Chu Kang Columbarium (CCKC) or other private places of their choice.
NEA said that claimants who prefer to claim the ashes and perform scattering at sea also have the option of doing so.
“Niches that are not claimed by 30 June 2017 will be removed from MVC. If they remain unclaimed for three years after removal, NEA will undertake to scatter the ashes at sea,” it added.
NEA stressed that all claimed niches will be replaced with the same niche type (i.e. standard niche to standard niche, or family niche to family niche) at Government columbaria.
A niche relocated to MC will be assigned a similar row placement as its previous niche position at MVC, and niches within the row will be assigned sequentially on a first-come-first-served basis.
For relocation to Government columbaria by NEA’s contractor according to NEA’s schedule, there will be no cost to the claimant for relocation and installation of the niche, provision of a standard niche marble plaque, and provision of a replacement urn if the original urn is damaged during the relocation process.
“If claimant opts to engage a private contractor for the relocation, the arrangement shall be at the claimant’s own cost,” the agency added.
It noted that the claimant may request a change in niche placement, niche type and/or niche classification (i.e. Christian or non-Christian), subject to availability. Requests for such changes would incur administration fees at prevailing rates.
Claimants can register their claims for the niches at MVC via the following modes:
- Post, Fax or Email
Registration Form can be downloaded here and is also available at the booking offices located at MC, CCKC and Choa Chu Kang Cemetery.
- In-person
Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium (Block F Office), 300 Mandai Road, Singapore 779393 Tel: (65) 6554 5657 Fax: (65) 6451 2631 Email: [email protected]
Operating hours:
Monday to Friday: 8.30am to 1.00pm and 2.00pm to 4.30pm
Saturday: 8.30am to 1.00pm
Sunday and Public Holiday: Closed
