Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding air pollution caused by traditional wood pyre cremation methods in Howrah and Kolkata, West Bengal, 02/01/2025
Order of the National Green Tribunal (Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata) in the matter of Ankur Sharma Vs State of West Bengal & Others dated 02/01/2025.
The applicant sought directions to the civic body to install pyre fumes collection system in crematoriums throughout the twin cities of Howrah and Kolkata to control pollution generated by traditional wood pyre cremation methods.
The application is also directed against air pollution caused by furnaces of electric cremation incinerators in different places of Howrah and Kolkata emitting thick black smoke into the air thereby causing environmental pollution. A list of crematoriums within the jurisdiction of Howrah Municipal Corporation and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation has been given by the applicant. It was stated that many of these crematoriums are located within residential areas due to rampant growth of cities. It was also stated that the traditional wood cremation uses around 300-500 kgs. of wood to cremate one body; many a times electric crematorium incinerators are found to be non functional as a result of which the relatives of the deceased are forced to use the wood cremation method instead.
The applicant stated that from the website of Press Information Bureau (PIB) he has learnt that the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) has developed the Pyre Fume Collection System (PFCS) and that such system has already been installed at the Nigam Bodh Ghat in New Delhi. It is stated that from another news item the applicant has learnt that the Kolkata Municipal Corporation has installed air pollution control device (APCD) over the wood pyres at Sri Sri Ramkrishna Mahashasan Burning Ghat (also known as Cossipore Burning Ghat) in 2012 but on the applicant’s visit on October 30, 2024, the burning ghat was found to be in a very poor condition due to lack of maintenance. The NGT directed the constitution of a five member fact finding committee to look into the matter.
The committee would visit the resective burning ghats and submit its report on affidavit within four weeks with regard to the allegations made in the application. If environmental violations are found, the committee should also suggest remedial measures and action proposed to be taken, the court said.