The Hindu 05.01.2010
Biomass gasifier crematoria gathering dust in Puducherry
Priti Narayan
| They were installed at a cost of Rs. 8.2 lakh each in 2002-03 |
— Photo : T. Singaravelou 
Needs attention: The biomass gasifier crematorium at Sanyasithoppu lying unused .
PUDUCHERRY: Three out of four eco-friendly biomass gasifier crematoria in Puducherry are remaining unused. They were installed at a cost of Rs. 8.2 lakh each in 2002-03. A visit to the Sanyasithoppu crematorium reveals that the biomass facility over there, which uses gas from burning firewood as fuel, is gathering dust.
“Around 4,000 bodies have been cremated in this facility. Even now, people evince interest in cremating bodies using this facility,” the caretaker says. “But, we have not been using this facility for over two years. There is no power supply to the woodcutting machine and air blower. We do not have a convenient water connection to run the facility with adequate safety as well,” he adds.
Officials of the Puducherry Municipality, who have the Sanyasithoppu and Thengaithittu facilities under their purview, say that apprehensions of people in opting for an unconventional method of cremation is also a deterrent in the use of the biomass gasifier crematorium. For religious reasons, people often opt for traditional cremation, they say.
The Pavazhakaranchavady facility is not being used because a cremation using the biomass gasifier fetches only around Rs. 1,000 for the undertaker, while the traditional method fetches more, officials of the Oulgaret Municipality claim. Only the biomass facility in Thakkakuttai, also under the Oulgaret Municipality, is functioning on a regular basis in the town.
Advantages of using a biomass gasifier cremation facility are many. It is a clean, eco-friendly method of cremation that does not leave any waste. It takes only an hour for the body to be cremated in such a facility, and the maintenance of the unit is also easy, officials of the Renewable Energy Agency of Puducherry say.
