Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation introduces Rs 2000 charge for gas-powered cremations to maintain facilities

Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday decided to charge Rs 2,000 per cremation in gas-powered burning chambers in city crematoriums. At present, cremation in the BMC facilities is free of cost.BMC officials said the decision was taken unanimously at the corporation meeting, and in order to maintain the gas chambers, a nominal fee will be taken from users. Apart from the oldest crematorium in the city located at Satyanagar, gas-powered chambers are available at two newly created crematoriums at Patrapada and Jagamara.Gas chambers were created while retaining the existing wood-based piers, for those who prefer traditional cremation. “The electric chamber was not cost-effective and frequently developed technical issues. The civic body spent Rs 2 to Rs 3 lakh per month on power bills. The crematorium’s chamber is kept switched on continuously as it takes about three hours to reach the required heat for cremation. In a gas crematorium, there is no such cumbersome process involved,” said a BMC officer.BMC officials said besides gas-based cremation, there are all basic facilities for performing last rites, including a changing room, sitting space and rest shed, as well as a storeroom for wood storage. Space has been reserved for future expansion and modernisation to keep pace with demand.The Satya Nagar crematorium, which handles most of the demand, in addition to the one at Bharatpur, which is wood-based only, on average, witnesses the cremation of 100 bodies in a month. Satya Nagar crematorium has undergone massive renovation. It has six open chulhas for wood-based cremation and six closed ones. Based on people’s beliefs and convenience, the facilities are used. “We spent Rs 3.2 crore to renovate the existing crematorium,” the officer added.Since 2014, green campaigners have advocated for more gas-based crematoriums to reduce air pollution. As the ceremony is linked to people’s faith, the campaigners urged BMC to raise awareness among the public to accept eco-friendly cremation methods.