The Nabagraha crematorium. Picture by UB Photos

Oct. 11: Rising price of commercial LPG cylinders is posing a major problem in starting the gas-based crematorium at Nabagraha.

At present, the market price of a 14kg LGP cylinder is Rs 392 while a commercial one costs Rs 1,268.

“All work in connection with the installation of the gas-based crematorium, providing an eco-friendly environment has already been completed. But the problem lies in getting gas cylinders at domestic prices from oil companies,” the assistant engineer of Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority, Ramanidhar Sarma, said.

Sarma said this month, formal talks were held with the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to supply gas cylinders at domestic prices.

“We want these gas cylinders at a subsidised rate in public interest only,” he added.

Launched in 2007, the gas-based crematorium was completed this year.

Gauhati East legislator Robin Bordoloi said, “It is sad to know that even after the completion of the installation, we are not in a position to start the project. We want to obtain the gas cylinders at domestic rates, otherwise, the cost of the cremation becomes high. But the IOC is not accepting the proposal. We have decided to approach Bharat Petroleum (BP) to procure cylinders at domestic rates.”

Bordoloi said it would be an eco-friendly facility, which would also help save trees. It is also necessary for a city like Guwahati to use alternative source of energy to cremate bodies.

Sarma said to run the project successfully automatic gas burners with a bank of 50 cylinders was required.

Safety systems like gas leak detector, flow meter, chimney and gas chambers have been installed, he added.

“According to rules, the IOC can only supply cylinders at a subsidised rate for domestic use and not for any other purpose. So, it is difficult to provide cylinders at a subsidised rate for the crematorium. Even the Centre is now planning to give only four to five cylinders in a year at subsidised rates to a customer. The oil companies are incurring huge losses for giving cylinders at subsidised rates,” the deputy general manager, LPG division of the company, A.C. Sarma, said.

“I have suggested taking over ground storage vessel containing seven to eight metric tonnes LPG instead of the 19kg commercial cylinder, which will cost slightly less,” he said.