Nagpur: The majority of families in the city still choose the cremation of traditional firewood over the last environmentally friendly ceremony.
Of the 16 crematoriums in the city, six had LPG facilities, diesel and briquettes to do the last rite.
Data obtained from Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) revealed that the city used 73.85 lakh kg of firewood for cremation from 1 April 2020 to 31, 2021.
The data also pointed to the lack of awareness about environmentally friendly cremation only 30% chose it.
In the last 14 months, 35,568 the body was cremated in 15 ghats.
Firewood is used to cremate 24,615 bodies while briquettes are preferred for the last 7,377 rituals.
Response to LPG and cremation diesel is very bad.
Only 3,576 bodies were cremated using this eco-friendly facility.
Data also shows that from April this year, NMC has begun to provide firewood too free of charge.
Previously, the Civic body used to charge the RS2,500 fee to provide 300kg firewood.
Until the time of Civic’s body is charged for firewood, people choose briquettes or LPG and diesel for cremation.
This can be measured from the fact that the last 6,375 rite was carried out in April using firewood while environmentally friendly options are used for 2,327 cremation.
In May, 3,218 corpses were cremated using firewood and 1,282 through environmentally friendly methods.
Expressing their concerns, environmental activists stated that Nagpur became a developing city, quickly lost its cover.
“Therefore, cremation by agro or electrical briquettes or CNG will definitely help in preserving greenery,” said Green Crusder and the Green Vigil Foundation team, Surbi Jaiswal.
Agro briquettes contribute to air pollution, they have fewer ash content.
“Moreover, this is a waste used.
Otherwise it will cause other environmental problems,” he said.
“However, someone needs to overcome religious faith that strongly supports cremation by firewood.
NMC spends to buy wood and briquettes, so both must be available for free in the crematorium or both must be charged,” Jaiswal said.
In short 16 | Bremations6 | Crematoria with Diesel / LPG / Briquettes Options – LPG | Ambazari, Mokshadham and Sahkar Nagar Ghats- Diesel | Gangabai and Vaishali Nagar Ghats- Briquettes | Ambazari, Mokshadam, Manewada, Sahkar Nagar, Gangabai and Mancapure Ghats24,615 | Cream done with firewood7.377 | Cremation Using Briquette3.576 | Cremation Using Diesel / LPG Facilities