The Piped Natural Gas (PNG) cemetery at Babhai in Mumbai’s Borivali does not cause air pollution, according to the report filed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on December 11, 2024.
The authorities responsible for running new crematoriums at Borivali, Babhai/Vazira Nake as well as Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) have not taken cognizance of the fact that the crematorium is located in the middle of a residential area, Mamta Samir Shirali, a resident of Mumbai’s Borivali (W), said in her application to the NGT.
Even though the crematorium is electric / PNG, a huge amount of gas emanates from it into the surrounding area. A lot of obnoxious gases are also released from the same, affecting the health of nearby residents.
The crematorium was inspected by BMC officers, among others.
Officials of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) carried out ambient air quality monitoring in the premises of the crematorium. The MPCB report said PM10, and PM2.5 pollution are marginally higher than prescribed limits.
Pollution levels do not change much during an average day, according to the BMC. The highest levels are around 5 pm, which is when traffic is heavy. This leads to an increase in pollution.
The MPCB report talked about levels of benzene, xylenes and ethylbenzene.
The flue gases arising due to cremation do not consist of these gases, according to the BMC. Local pollution, therefore, must have other pollution sources near the cemetery such as vehicular traffic jams, new constructions and painting jobs of buildings. The BMC also said crematorium flue gas toluene is natural hydrocarbons and is not poisonous.
A more environment friendly PNG cremation system was installed at Babhai cemetery on May 15, 2021, in accordance with MPCB norms, the BMC stated.
The PNG cremation system has two PNG-operated furnaces for cremation of human bodies. The design of the PNG cremation system is vetted at Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute, Mumbai.
Air pollution control systems are installed at PNG-operated furnaces and are operated and maintained by contractors appointed for these systems. These are working satisfactorily. The black smoke generated during the cremation of a human body is collected in a scrubber to clean the gases passing through the chimneys.
BMC further stated that to check pollutants in smoke generated during cremation of a human body, the stack emission test is conducted periodically by the MPCB-approved agency at both cremation systems. Recently, one such test was conducted on September 26, 2024, and it was observed that pollutants in the air are within permissible limits as specified by MPCB.
Similar PNG cremation systems are installed at different locations all over Mumbai and all are working satisfactorily.
A sum amounting to more than one crore (Rs 1,59,22,550) was imposed as environment compensation on Mahim Junction located on the Western Railway in Mumbai for not keeping areas around rail tracks clean, MPCB said.
Platforms and railway tracks were found cleaned during inspection by the pollution control board, according to the MPCB report dated December 12, 2024.
However, a huge amount of garbage was found on the siding tracks. Garbage is thrown onto the siding yard from a slum area towards its east, according to the Railways representative.
The railway authorities carry out daily cleaning of track and platform, but there is no schedule for stabling yard cleaning. Generated domestic effluent is connected to MCGM drainage and solid waste handed over to MCGM.