Pune, 19th June 2023: The Pune Air Action Hub, a coalition of civil society organizations and concerned individuals dedicated to addressing air pollution in the city, recently conducted a survey of 40 crematoria within the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) limits. The survey aimed to assess various factors, including the type of fuel used for cremations, the condition of the facilities, the availability of water and clean toilets, the presence of greenery, and accessibility of information for citizens.
The findings revealed that over 50% of the cremations in Pune take place at Vaikunth Smashanbhoomi, the oldest crematorium in the city. This excessive overload has had a significant impact on the residents of Navi Peth, the locality where Vaikunth Smashanbhoomi is situated. The continuous burning of pyres, both during the day and night, has resulted in severe air pollution, affecting households in the vicinity. The adverse health effects, particularly on children and the elderly, have raised concerns among the residents. The situation is further exacerbated by the suboptimal functioning of the Air Pollution Control (APC) system and questions surrounding the height of the chimney. Seeking resolution, the residents have approached the High Court and engaged with multiple state and city-level authorities.
Sharmila Deo from Parisar highlighted the absence of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines specifically addressing crematoria in urban areas. This gap in mitigation efforts has been raised by MP Vandana Chavan in Parliament, prompting a response from the Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) that CPCB is currently preparing guidelines. Experts emphasize the importance of such guidelines, given that many old crematoria in cities are now surrounded by densely populated residential areas, making them susceptible to pollution from cremations.
During the survey, Sathya Natarajan, a member of the Pune Air Action Hub, observed that with minimal upkeep and immediate interventions, many crematoria could be made easily accessible to nearby residents. Encouraging residents to use the facilities at the closest crematorium can help alleviate the burden on overloaded ones.
Shweta Vernekar from Parisar emphasized the urgent need for electric furnaces in the city, pointing out that the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) should replace wood-burning furnaces with electric ones to mitigate pollution and its associated health impacts on nearby residents. However, she acknowledged the cultural and religious considerations associated with such a transition, emphasizing the importance of mass awareness campaigns and providing accurate information to facilitate change.
The report has been shared with MP Vandana Chavan, who has written to the PMC Commissioner requesting a meeting to discuss the key findings and recommendations with the Pune Air Action Hub members. Chavan has also corresponded with the CPCB, sharing some technical recommendations.
Chavan expressed concern over the longstanding issue surrounding Vaikunth Smashanbhoomi, emphasizing the need to understand why citizens prefer certain crematoria over others. She called for equitable distribution of cremations by providing similar services at all crematoria, which would allow citizens to use the facilities nearest to them, rather than having to travel across the city.
As of now, there has been no response from the PMC or the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) regarding the report’s findings.
Key findings from the survey include:
- None of the 83 open pyres surveyed had any air pollution control mechanisms.
- Out of the 40 crematoria surveyed, only 7 had electric cremation facilities, and 16 had gas cremation facilities.
- Only 45% of the surveyed crematoria had functional and clean toilets.
- Only 47% of the surveyed crematoria were found to have a pleasant and clean environment.
The report includes several key recommendations:
- Improve basic services, such as water availability and clean toilets, at all crematoria.
- Increase the adoption of electric and gas cremations to reduce reliance on wood burning.
- Implement ward-wise decentralization of outreach and information regarding crematoria.
- Conduct citizen feedback initiatives to enhance crematoria services.
Addressing the issues highlighted in the report will contribute to improved air quality, protect public health, and ensure that crematoria serve as dignified and accessible spaces for the final rites of loved ones. The Pune Air Action Hub remains committed to collaborating with relevant authorities to bring about positive change in the city’s cremation practices and air pollution mitigation efforts.
