Chennai : Five cremation grounds in north Chennai will be equipped with gasifiers within the next three months, Mayor M. Subramanian said here on Wednesday.

The Mayor, accompanied by floor leaders of all parties in the Corporation Council, inspected the Velangadu burial/cremation ground in Anna Nagar. The new gasifier facility in Velangadu could be put to use from Thursday, Mr. Subramanian said.

About Rs. 2.6 crore has been allotted for the five gasifier crematoria in north Chennai. Apart from Velangadu, where work is complete, the cremation grounds to be covered in the next three months are Kasimedu (Basin Bridge Zone), Vyasarpadi (Pulianthope Zone), Otteri (Ayanavaram Zone) and Thangal (Ayanavaram Zone). The work is part of the Rs. 217 crore package of civic improvements for north Chennai.

Chennai has 38 cremation grounds, of which six (all in south Chennai) are equipped with gasifiers. Hence, priority was given for providing the facility in five of north Chennai's cremation grounds.

The remaining 27 cremation grounds would also be provided the gasifier facility within a year, the Mayor said. About Rs. 28 crore would be spent on the facility. The time taken for a cremation and the handing over of ashes to relatives takes about an hour in the gasifier crematorium. The fuel used in the gasifier is low-cost firewood. Wood chips are fed into the gasifier and the gas produced is used to light the furnace in the chamber. The charges per cremation is Rs.250. The Mayor told reporters that the Corporation has initiated stern action on meat shops that failed to meet hygiene and sanitation standards. During recent raids by Health department staff, 1050 kilos of meat have been seized from these shops, he said.

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