Pune: The civic body has planned to start 14 gas crematoriums across the city with an aim to reduce air pollution . The decision has been taken by the Pune Municipal Corporation ( PMC ) after it received several complaints from residents of the city. According to a PMC official, the civic administration will set up the gas cremations at Tulsiram Burning Ghat, Wagholi, Dhanori, Koregaon Park, Sutarwadi, Baner, Pashan, Sus-Mhalunge, Uttamnagar, Ramtekdi, Manjari, Kondhwa Khurd, Yevlewadi, and Mohammadwadi.
“The use of wood and other material that lead to air pollution should be reduced. So the administration has taken this initiative,” a senior PMC official said. Vikrant Latkar, who lives near Vaikuntha crematorium, had filed a petition in the NGT and Bombay high court against the pollution caused by cremation.
“The authorities were expected to work on around 66 points to deal with pollution caused by crematoriums. But, they are passing the buck on one another,” he said. As per Latkar, more effort is needed to reduce use of wood for burning bodies.
“Even capacity of the scrubbers installed in the crematoriums should be improved,” he said. A PMC official said that the civic body has planned to use piped gas for cremations that will replace the use of commercial gas cylinders. “A tie-up with Maharashtra Natural Gas Limited (MNGL) has been made.
The expense on gas cremation will go down by 50%,” the official said. According to an estimate, the PMC is currently spen.