In a bid to curb pollution levels in the city, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will start CNG-based facilities at four of its crematoriums.
According to the BMC, the move is also aimed at curtailing its expenses and, thus, saving the tax payers' money.
The civic body, in its budget for 2012-13, had proposed the launch of such a service at its Kandivli and Goregaon crematoriums. The civic standing committee recently approved a proposal in this regard, adding two more crematoriums (located in Andheri and Versova) to the list.
The corporation is likely to spend around Rs1.75 crore in installing a CNG facility at each crematorium.
A senior civic official, on condition of anonymity, said, “We plan to make the facility functional in a year. The crematoria services will be provided to people free of cost. Once the system is operational, expenses borne by the BMC, too, will be less than what they are now.”
At present, the civic body provides wood and electricity-based services at civic crematoriums. These are free as well. It spends Rs2,000 to make wood available for performing the final rites of a person, whereas electricity-based service costs around Rs1,600-Rs1,700. In the new gas system, the amount spent will be Rs575.
Even as he lauded the move, leader of the House in the BMC, Yashodhar Phanse, added that wood will still be made available for those who wish not to opt for the change.
"It is an issue of sentiment. Some may prefer CNG while others may opt for wood. We would want the maximum use of CNG for the advantages it offers. However, efforts will be made to ensure that the gas system is installed across all crematoriums in phases," the leader said.
Residents too welcomed the BMC's decision and said private operators should opt for CNG facilities as well. Ashish Mehta, a Ghatkopar resident, pointed out how it is also the onus of gas suppliers like Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL) to provide connections for CNG crematoria on time.
"We really had to struggle to get a gas connection for a private Ghatkopar crematorium. So, MGL should see operators are provided connections on time," he added.
