Aurangabad: In an attempt to reduce the use of wood and to aid in the availability of clean air in the city, a Nagpur-based NGO has made a proposal to the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) to undertake the cremation through a mechanical process which uses cow dung cakes and electricity instead of the traditional method of burning wood.The Vasusha Woodless Cremation Foundation is a wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. The foundation is working with the municipal bodies in Akola and Wardha in running woodless crematoriums for them.Explaining the entire process, Abhishek Uthangale, one of the directors of the foundation said that the cremation is done through a machine that was developed by them. “The body is covered in layers of cow dung from above and below and then a blower that is run by electricity aids the flames. A person is required to be present to run the machine but no wood whatsoever is used in the cremation process,” said Uthangale.The traditional Indian cremation process uses around 700-800 kgs of wood, which is equal to two fully grown trees and the process takes 5 to 6 hours to complete. However, the woodless cremation requires 200 cow dung cakes and only 1.45 hours for the entire cremation process to be completed, said Uthangale.The new process is also economical as it costs only Rs2,000 as against Rs4,500 to Rs5,000 required for the traditional method of cremation.Mayor Nandkumar Ghodele said that a proposal to install a woodless cremation machine at six crematoriums in the city is currently under consideration.Uthangale said that the AMC has stated that it will undertake some research and present the proposal before the general body for its approval.“If the proposal is approved, we have asked the AMC to pay us Rs2,000 per body. We will use this for the labour, to pay electricity bills as well as for security purposes,” he said.When asked whether there is any provision to ensure a reduction in air pollution, the NGO director said that toxic gases and ash particles are released during a traditional cremation, which contributes to the air pollution.In the mechanical process that is used by the NGO, the smoke is passed through the scrubber, which absorbs the harmful gases and air particles and only pure smoke is released through the chimney. The remaining matter is mixed in water.The Santavana Mitra Parivar of the NGO, which comprises of senior citizens, works towards consoling the grieving families of the deceased and also encourages them to go for the woodless cremation.

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