The Hindu 14.09.2010
Corporation's biomass gasifier crematorium nearing completion
Special Correspondent
| Gas produced by the burning of wooden chips would be the source of energy |
NEW FACILITY: Coimbatore Corporation South Zone Chairman P. Pynthamil (centre), Congress Floor Leader in the Corporation Council R.S. Thirumugham (left) and Leader of the Opposition V.N. Udayakumar (right) taking a look at a burner at the biomass gasifier crematorium on Monday.
COIMBATORE: A crematorium in which burners will be powered by a biomass gasifier, and not the conventional electricity, will be ready in two months on Nanjundapuram Road in the south zone of the Coimbatore Corporation.
It will be the first biomass gasifier crematorium to be put up by the civic body in the city, zone Chairman P. Pynthamil said on Monday after reviewing the progress of the work at the crematorium site.
“Almost 75 per cent of the work has been completed. We hope to open it in two months. The project took off in 2009. There has been some delay in landscaping. But, we will have a biomass gasifier crematorium that will compare well with those put up by private organisations,” Mr. Pari said.
Two private firms had already put up similar facilities that were meant to be eco-friendly and at the same time function as efficiently as the crematoria powered by electricity.
Gas produced by the burning of wooden chips (known as solid fuel) would be the source of energy for the functioning of the burners. The new crematorium would have two burners. The cremation of each body would require 400 kg of wood. The lights, fans and motors for pumping water would be powered by electricity.
The crematorium was equipped with pollution prevention mechanism. Smoke from the burners would not harm the environment, Mr. Pari said.
The facility was being established on 1.75 acres. The size of the crematorium building was 5,100 sq.ft. and it cost Rs.91 lakh (along with the burners and other equipment).
“We plan to build a compound wall at Rs.50 lakh and landscaping is to be done. I have suggested a fountain, a high-mast lamp and black granite for the front elevation,” Mr. Pari said.
Leader of the Opposition V.N. Udayakumar and Congress Floor Leader in the Corporation Council R.S. Thirumugham suggested that a separate room at the entrance should be provided for the washing of the dead bodies.
“As per custom, the bodies are washed and rites performed before they are cremated. Washing these in front of the building in the open will not be appropriate. Therefore, we will work on this facility also,” Mr. Pari said.
As per the original plan, the crematorium had toilets and bath rooms and also a waiting room.
The crematorium could be easily accessed by people in Ramanathapuram, Nanjundapuram, Puliakulam and Race Course, coming under Wards 12, 13, 23, 24, 25, 26 and also some parts of wards 21 and 22.
The Corporation also proposed to construct another biomass gasifier crematorium at Rs.2 crore at Kavundampalayam on its erstwhile garbage yard. It would serve areas in the western and northern parts of the city.
