the goan I network
PANAJI
The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has agreed to issue an environmental clearance certificate for biomass briquettes to be used in crematoriums across the state, sources from the Rotary Club of Panjim informed on Friday. The Rotary Club of Panjim was asked to obtain this certificate by the Corporation of the City of Panjim (CCP) with regard to the St Inez Crematorium, where briquettes were introduced as an alternative to firewood.
So far, three cremations have taken place at the St Inez crematorium using this environment-friendly option. The biggest advantage to the environment as far as biomass briquettes is concerned, is that unlike firewood, no tree would have to be felled for their production.
With around 700 bodies being cremated at the St Inez crematorium each year, Rotary Club says around 350 trees could be saved if briquettes were used.
Briquettes, which are produced using raw
materials like saw dust and ground nut shells, or other seasonally available raw materials, are currently being offered as an option at the St Inez Crematorim by the Rotary Club, at no cost, so that awareness is created about the same. Once environment clearance is obtained from the GSPCB, the CCP is expected to move forward with offering briquettes at the crematorium.
Briquettes are cost effective too, being priced at around half the cost of traditional firewood. Moreover, while around 250-300 kilos of firewood is required to turn an average body into ashes, only around 150 kilos of briquettes is required to do the same. With briquettes taking just around 4- 5 hours for cremation, ashes can be collected within 24 hours as opposed to the usual three days.
Currently, the container being used for cremation by briquettes at the St Inez crematorium has been sponsored by Rotary Club, and costs around Rs 1.5 lakh. “This is a cast-iron container, which will last for years on end, and the cost is a one time cost,” Rotarian Sanjiv told ‘The Goan.’
Briquettes are already being used in cities like Mumbai and Nagpur, as well as in Rajasthan. While the heat generated during the cremation process using briquettes is intense, the smoke generated is much less. Further, briquettes take care of the disposal of agricultural waste due to its being produced from agricultural waste.
Biomass Briquettes were among the many interesting displays at the sixth and ongoing Goa Environmental Festival (GEF) taking place at Kala Academy.
