City to get three new crematoriums

Bhubaneswar: Three more crematoriums will be set up at different locations in the city to meet the rising demand for cremation without relying on the oldest crematorium at Satya Nagar. Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), which has designated land at Raghunathpur, Patrapada, and Jagamara, will commence construction soon.
"The crematoriums will feature open platforms for wood-based cremation. There will be 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 will be reserved for future expansion and modernisation to keep pace with demand. Each crematorium will cover more than an acre," said BMC executive engineer Saroj Mohapatra.
Currently, BMC operates the Satya Nagar crematorium, which handles most of the demand, in addition to the one at Bharatpur. On an average, 100 bodies are cremated at the Satya Nagar crematorium every month.
"Satya Nagar crematorium is currently undergoing renovation. Earlier, it had an electric chamber, but this will be replaced by gas-based cremation. 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 are spending Rs 3.2 crore on renovating the existing crematorium," said BMC executive engineer Jagannath Patnaik.
In the future, four gas chambers will be created for cremation while retaining the existing wood-based chullahs, providing options 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.
Since 2014, green campaigners have advocated for more gas-based crematoriums to reduce air pollution. As it is linked to people's faith, the campaigners urged the BMC to raise awareness among the public to accept eco-friendly cremation methods.