Thiruvananthapuram, PTI: The Kerala government is gearing up to switch over to gas-operated crematoriums in place of the existing electric-powered ones in public areas, as they are eco-friendly and cost-effective.
According to official sources, the operation of electric-powered crematoriums has become very expensive as the power consumption is high and uninterrupted power supply is inevitable for it to keep the furnace pre-heated to burn the bodies.
At the same time, the eco-friendly gas crematoriums are not only cost-effective and time-saving but also smoke and smell-free, they said.
Suchitwa Mission, the state nodal agency for sanitation, is entrusted with the designing and technical support for the construction of LPG-powered crematoriums at the local self-government level.
On the implementation of the project, Suchitwa Mission Director (Operations) C V Joy said the gas crematorium project would be implemented with the support of Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), the state government's special purpose vehicle.
A total of Rs 110 crore was sanctioned by the government for the initiative, he said.
"We are planning to set up gas crematoriums in places where the respective local self-government institutions find a place for the same," Joy said.
Detailing the design of the new crematorium, the official said their objective is to create a place which does not feel like a conventional crematorium.
Dwelling on the cost involved in setting up the crematoriums, Joy said, around Rs 60 lakh to Rs 1.50 crore is required for the construction of each gas crematorium.
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