The State capital Bhubaneswar has got its first natural gas-based crematorium for cremation of bodies.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi inaugurated the crematorium at Dharma Vihar in Khandagiri on Friday.
The crematorium developed by the GAIL India Limited is equipped with two natural gas-run furnaces.
The initiative for cremating bodies with natural gas is likely to improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions. A body will be burnt within an hour at the natural gas-run furnace. The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been given the charge of maintenance of the crematorium.
Notably, the GAIL has been assigned for the construction of three natural gas-based crematoriums at an expenditure of Rs 16 crore in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.
While one crematorium was inaugurated in Khandagiri, two more crematoriums equipped with natural gas run-furnaces will be operational in coming days at Aiginia in Bhubaneswar and Khan Nagar in Cuttack city.