CHENNAI : The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, in a report submitted to the Madras High Court recently, has said that the newly installed gasifier-based crematorium on the Besant Nagar burial grounds conform to Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules. It has further suggested changes to the design to strengthen environmental safeguards.

The court had directed the Board last month to inspect the crematorium and furnish details on the environmental impact it had created. The orders were passed while hearing a public interest litigation petition filed by a group of residents who said the facility was an environmental hazard because of poor maintenance.

Chennai Corporation that maintained two electrical crematoria at Besant Nagar decided to shut both units down and opt for the gas-fired crematoria.

One of the electrical crematoria was converted to a gasifier-based one last month and commissioned.

The other electrical crematorium was shut down.

Pollution Control Board officials inspected the newly inaugurated gasifier-based crematorium on March 14 and submitted a report to the Madras High Court.

Compliance

In its report, the TNPCB has noted that the gasifier crematorium at Besant Nagar met the requirements stipulated in Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules in both operating and emission standards.

Among the parameters for operating standards: BMW Rules benchmark the combustion efficiency at 99 per cent. At Besant Nagar, the combustion efficiency was recorded at 99.8 per cent.

Suggestions

The pollution control Board has suggested that the Chennai Corporation could make some more additions to its crematorium, primarily to monitor the furnaces and ensure that the operation takes place only at optimal temperatures. It also called continuous monitoring of the emissions and maintenance of records. Chennai Corporation will respond to the suggestions when the court hears the public interest litigation petition next.

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