A PIL IN BOMBAY HC AGAINST THE TOXIC EMISSIONS FROM THE CITY'S OLDEST CREMATORIUM

12th May 2021

A retired civil engineer and Pune resident Vikrant  Latkar filed a PIL in Bombay HC against the toxic emissions from the Vaikunth Shamshanbhoomi (oldest crematorium) in Pune. He sought better equipment like gas and electrical chambers and also to increase the chimney's height.

The Petitioner contended that the smoke gets entrapped on the ground, causing respiratory issues for nearby residents. Eco-friendly guidelines should be issued like the Green Crematoria at Nigam Bodh Ghats of New Delhi.

Pune municipal corporation PMC claims, through its website, that they've installed modern crematorium equipment in six crematoriums of the city. It is important to note that neither of them works properly or is yet to pass the pollution control system. Moreover, PMC failed to follow NGT's last year's order to maintain and monitor air quality, maintain crematoriums and put the same in the public domain.

The state pollution control board and the Commissioner were also directed to plan to programmed for control and prevention of air pollution.  Provisions are made for crematoriums. However, PMC has failed to provide pollution control systems like blower, scrubber, hood and stack.

Therefore, it is prayed to install air pollution meters.

Author - Papiha Ghoshal