Two CNG/LPG/PNG Gas-Based Crematorium With 10 KLD ETP Plant Established In Pune Cantonment Area

Pune, 15th November 2022: The Electric Crematorium at Muktidham, Dhobighat, was installed and commissioned in 2003. It is an electric furnace and operates on a continuous supply of electricity, and it is required to maintain the temperature of the furnace from 650 degrees Celsius to 680 degrees Celsius. Over a period, it has been observed that the furnace structure has deteriorated and internal heat is leaking from inside.

The 30 ft height Chimney of the system is also rusted and deteriorated at the base plate and foundation. It is also required to make necessary changes in the system as per the norms of the pollution control board. There is also demand from the public to install an additional furnace given the increase in load on the existing furnace.

The 30 ft height MS chimney collapsed due to heavy wind load on 22.04.2022. The chimney was rusted at multiple points and collapsed due to heavy wind load and self-weight. The exhaust blower system was damaged due to this incident.

Accordingly, a detailed survey was carried out with the manufacturer of the electric furnace, and the following were the observations:-

The existing building of the electric crematorium is too small to accommodate an additional furnace and its accessories.

There is no vacant space for the construction of an additional building for construction of the new building, and the cost involved will be too high.

The existing set-up of the electric crematorium is too old, and the spares are not easily available. The 30 feet high chimney needs urgent replacement and is required to be installed with an Air pollution control system. It is possible to install two new CNG-based furnaces in the existing building of the electric crematorium after dismantling the old electric furnace. The furnace shall be compatible with both CNG and LPG gas.

There is a huge demand for the cantonment residents and people of the adjoining area, as well as PCB members, to install two furnaces because the waiting period at the crematorium has increased tremendously either because of rush or technical problems. The existing crematorium is breaking down frequently and the Board has been constrained to shut down the same for more than eight to ten days periodically due to overload, wear and tear of types of machinery which are causing inconvenience to the public. Hence this additional furnace will cater for the needs of residents of Pune Cantonment and nearby areas.

The gas-based furnaces for the cremation of human bodies played a vital role in reducing air pollution, ETPs reducing water pollution; it also reduces the dependency on electric supply. These furnaces can cause a very high impact on environmental gradation by reducing carbon footprints in the area. The demand for wood has been reduced drastically for the cremation of human bodies which is a costlier option as compared to gas-based cremation. The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board also suggested increasing the Gas / Electric crematorium wherever possible. Particularly during this pandemic period, the need for gas-based cremation in an enclosed area is essential.

Lions Club Of Pune, Bibwewadi, submitted a proposal to develop a new CNG/PNG crematorium at the existing building of Muktidham to serve the public of Pune Cantonment and Pune city. They will provide the following infrastructural development at Muktidham –

1. Dismantling and disposal of an existing chimney, its foundation with furnace and its accessories.

2. Supply and installation of two CNG/PNG gas cremation furnaces with all accessories.

3. Supply and installation of 10 KLD ETP

4. Civil and electrical work required for the installation of the two furnaces, new chimney and allied accessories.

5. Liasioning for all permissions of MPCB and electrical inspector as required.

The infrastructure will be as per the latest and suitable technology for the existing building through their vendor and handover the asset after completion of the work.

The work will be completed in 4 to 6 months.

The estimated cost of the project work is around 1 Cr. approximately.

Following are the exclusions from the scope of the Club:

a. Operation and Maintenance of the furnaces and entire system

b. Charges of CNG / PNG gas

c. Charges of the consumables, cleaning agents and chemicals of ETP

d. Charges of electricity.

At present, the electric crematorium has been shut down for public use since then. Since the electric crematorium is shut down, the services are catered only for the APC system and conventional cremation grounds.