MARGAO
The Hindu Mathagramastha Sabha-run crematorium at Pajifond in the commercial capital had achieved a distinction during the COVID-19 pandemic when the management had thrown open the doors of the crematorium for COVID bodies irrespective of caste and creed.
Wednesday saw the HMS taking another bold step in the disposal of dead bodies. For the first time in the 110-year old history of the Pajifond crematorium, the mortal remains of an unclaimed body was disposed of by using biomass briquettes as fuel instead of firewood. And, if the president of Hindu Mathagramastha Sabha Bhai Naik is to be believed, the organization aims at totally replacing fire wood in the disposal of dead bodies within the next six months, which will save hundreds of trees from being felled to arrange fire wood. “We have cremated the first body at the crematorium with biomass briquettes. The time taken to dispose of the body with biomass fuel is around five hours, while fire wood normally takes four hours. As far as financial implications are concerned, the crematorium used to incur huge expenditure on the fire wood and on the cutters to fell the trees.”, he said.
He added: “This is just the beginning. Since it will take some time for the people to get adjusted with the biomass fuel concept, we have set six months time to completely switch over to biomass briquettes concept”.
The use of biomass briquettes instead of wood for the disposal of the dead bodies have received a nod from the Goa government as well as from the Goa State Pollution Control Board. Associate vice-president of a Punjab-based company, Anuragh Verma told the media that the concept of cremation with biomass briquettes was introduced three years ago and the concept is being spread across the country. “We had approached the government with the proposal. The GSPCB has issued an advisory for the Civic bodies to use the biomass fuel for the disposal of bodies”, he said.
Explaining the concept, Verma said the concept helps in saving wood and the trees, and help protect the environment. “The concept helps in saving lot of wood. When the Pajifond crematorium is disposing around 80-90 bodies in a month, it will save around 32 tons of fire wood in a month” , he said.
He added: “The average weight of a tree is around 1.5 to two ton. The Concept will help save around 300-400 trees in Margao alone. If the concept is introduced across the state, Goa will save around 2500 tree in a year. Saving such huge number of trees stop pollution and save the environment”, he added.
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai has complimented Bhai Naik for his bold initiative, which will help save trees and the environment. “The Hindu Mathagramastha Sabha has taken the first step, which will soon spread across the state, which will help save Goa’s tree cover from destruction”, Sardesai added.
