The hoods installed at Cossipore burning ghat. Picture by Sayantan Ghosh

The Calcutta Municipal Corporation (CMC) has undertaken a project to reduce smoke, stench and pollution from wooden funeral pyres.

Though electric pyres are mostly used to burn bodies now, many prefer wooden ones. Civic sources said about 7,000 bodies were burnt on wooden pyres every year.

Hoods fitted with exhaust fans are being installed over the pyres. The sucked-up smoke will be emitted through a 40ft tall chimney. A pollution control device fitted to the top of the chimney will clean the smoke and reduce ash particles in it.

Cossipore burning ghat, where Sri Ramakrishna was cremated, will be the first stop for the project. “The renovated wooden pyre at Cossipore will be in use from December 1. We will soon begin the makeover at Keoratala burning ghat,” said mayoral council (health) Atin Ghosh.

According to him, wooden pyres cannot be phased out keeping in mind the sentiments of people. The makeover will provide relief to relatives and friends who accompany the body and need to be at the ghat till the cremation is over.

About 180kg of wood, which costs about Rs 600, is needed to burn a body. The process takes about three hours.

“The smoke and heat become intolerable and it is often very difficult to stay near the pyre. The new system will reduce heat, smoke and stench,” said a civic official.

Those living near the burning ghat will also benefit.

Bodies are burnt in the open on wooden pyres. The smoke and ash pollute neighbouring areas.

Civic sources said five of the seven burning ghats in the city — Cossipore, Nimtala, Keoratala, Kashi Mitra Ghat and Birjunala — had both wooden and electric pyres. Nimtala has seven wooden pyres, the highest in Calcutta. Annually, 53,000 bodies are cremated in the burning ghats.

The CMC has spent Rs 15 lakh on the Cossipore project.