Cuttack, March 3: The municipal corporation will shortly introduce pollution-free and cost-effective compressed natural gas-based cremation systems in the city.

The Cuttack Municipal Corporation will install CNG-fuelled ovens at three crematoria in the city - Khannagar, Kaliaboda and Sati Choura. The energy saving and eco-friendly cremation system will be introduced for the first time in the state.

A senior official said the CNG-based systems would be introduced as a pilot project by replacing the sole existing electric furnace at the Khannagar crematorium.

Later, the facility can be extended to the other two crematoria.

An expert team from the engineering department will visit other cities in the country where such crematoriums are operating. Based on that report, an agreement will be signed for various operators involved in this system.

The CNG-based crematoria are not only convenient, but also cost effective and eco-friendly than the conventional fuel wood and electric-based ones.

'We are exploring the possibilities of introducing a CNG-based furnace at Khannagar to reduce pollution. Besides, the cost of operating an electric furnace is high,' said civic body commissioner Gyana Das.

Sources said the electric furnace had to be preheated at 2,000 degrees Celsius round the clock, which consumes a lot of electricity.

At present, the civic body is spending nearly Rs 2 lakh to pay monthly electricity charges for the electric furnace at Khannagar that was set up in 1985. The electricity consumption has increased mainly due to the decreased heat-retaining capacity of the bricks used inside the chimney and furnace.

'There is no doubt that the CNG-operated crematorium will be the best alternative to the traditional method, as it be will cost-effective and ensure zero pollution,' said Puri Ghat resident Maheswar Swain.

Swain said that the CNG system would resolve various problems at the Khannagar crematorium that got out of order every six months causing problems for a lot of people.

A civic body official said the crematorium needed to be closed down in case of a machine breakdown, as the bricks and coils used in the chimney and furnace were not available in the state.

The coils and bricks and other spare parts are usually imported from Calcutta - a process that takes months. Besides, a single coil used in the chimney costs Rs 18,000 to Rs 20,000.

On an average, around 30 to 40 bodies are cremated at the Khannagar electric crematorium every month. The civic body charges Rs 150 for the cremation of an adult body and Rs 50 for the body of a child below nine years.