To increase green cover & curb pollution, MCD to use bamboo to fence cremation, burial grounds

New Delhi: Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will plant bamboo groves along the boundaries of cremation and burial grounds across the city.The project aims at increasing the city's green cover and mitigate air pollution caused by gases generated during cremations, a civic official told TOI.The natural bio-fencing is expected to be a low-cost alternative to conventional boundary walls, according to the official. "Instead of expensive walls, bamboo plantations will create a natural cover around these spaces," he said, adding that the dense foliage will act as a barrier and filter smoke and dust, thereby keeping the air in and around these sites clean.The expenditure for the project will be borne by the public health department. All district health officers have been directed to send requests to deputy directors of health in their respective zones for installing the peripheral fencing.Officials have been asked to treat the project on a priority basis and initiate the process immediately so that tenders can be floated in time and the plantation drive carried out before or during this year's monsoon, which is considered the most suitable time for planting bamboo.The corporation manages around 50 wood-based cremation grounds, two electric crematoriums and eight CNG-based cremation facilities across the city. It also oversees seven Muslim graveyards, five burial grounds for children and four Christian cemeteries, most of which are operated by NGOs.Recent work in the city include the completion of a CNG mortuary at Dassghat cremation ground, ongoing construction of another facility at P K Road in Mangolpuri, and the upgradation of an electric crematorium at Sarai Kale Khan, where the last rites of unclaimed bodies are performed.Additional land development has been carried out at Buland Masjid graveyard and graveyards in Mulla Colony and Sapera Basti. Under corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, the installation of two new CNG furnaces is underway at cremation grounds in Mangolpuri and Sector 26 in Rohini.