Air pollution from crematorium irks residents of Gnanapuram

They complain that smoke, fine ash from funeral pyres engulfing area

Residents of Gnanapuram in Visakhapatnam have been complaining about pollution problems due to the burning of a large number of bodies at the Chavulamadum crematorium. They say that daily about 60 to 70 bodies are being cremated, of which 10 to 11 are being cremated in the electric crematorium. Corporator of ward 41, Kodigudla Purnima, said the capacity of the crematorium was around 15 to 17 bodies a day. “And when we talk of capacity, they include space, infrastructure and manpower. But at present about 60 bodies are being lit in the traditional form with firewood and around 10 are being sent to the electric crematorium and this has been the scenario at least for the past 15 days,” she said.