VARANASI: Manikarnika Ghat ‘mahashamshan’ (great cremation ground) will soon have 18 more pyre frames on three platforms and two green crematoriums, also known as greenatorium, enabling last rites with wood in electric crematorium under the ongoing Kashi Vishwanath Dham (Corridor) project.
The company executing the KV Dham project has started civil work, including constructing retaining walls of the expanded platforms at the cremation ground at war footing.
Old structures, including the steps leading to Manikarnika Ghat and its old platforms, have been demolished.
Due to the ongoing construction work, people bringing bodies for cremation are reaching the river bank from the other side of the ghat.
Also, many bodies are being cremated on the mud deposited to protect the under-construction retaining wall.
Divisional commissioner Deepak Agrawal said, “Manikarnika Ghat is being renovated with 18 new pyre frames as part of KV Dham project.
The cost of the renovation is included in the total cost budget Rs 339 crore of the KV Dham project sanctioned for all construction work.
The project is likely to be completed by November 15.” Providing details of the project after an inspection of the project site, district magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said, “Six new pyre frames will come on three platforms each downstairs for traditionally cremating the bodies along the Ganga bank.
It will be handed over to the Dom Raja family after completion.” “This will end the practice of burning bodies in an unorganized way and on the silt deposited near ghats following the flood season.
Existing pyres under tin-shade with chimneys are not being disturbed,” he added.
The DM said that apart from 18 new pyre frames at three platforms, two greenatoriums are also being built at Manikarnika Ghat with financial assistance from a company under the corporate responsibility fund (CRF).
Municipal commissioner Gauran Rathi said, “The greenatoriums comprise the facility of setting body on wood to burn in electric furnaces.
It will enable people to perform traditional rituals on pyres.
It reduces use of wood up to 80%, which also brings down the cost of cremation.
The site for establishing the greenatoriums at Manikarnika Ghat will be finalised soon.” Meanwhile, some groups including one led by manager of Baba Shamshan Nath Mandir Seva Samiti Gulshan Kapoor have opposed electric crematorium at Manikarnika Ghat.
They have claimed that Shastras do not allow for such things.
He said it is unfortunate to remove the buildings where priests used to perform rituals in the past.