Kharghar electric crematorium plan gets a boost

The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) has assured residents that concrete steps would be taken within two weeks to open up the service road at Karal Phata in Uran area.

On Wednesday, JNPT chief manager (port planning and development) AJ Lokhande to ld this to a delegation of MNS leaders who met him in his office.

JNPT had called a meeting of the MNS delegation on Wednesday following the chakka jam agitation of MNS on Monday.

The MNS had organised the agitation protesting the rising number of accidents in the region. The agitation was suspended after JNPT officials assured that they would hold discussion with them on the issue.

At the meeting, MNS leaders demanded explanation on the inadequate basic services and amenities in the region. A new railway crossing has been constructed at Karal for the land filling work of the 4th port.

It has been shut for years. The MNS demanded that it be opened. An MNS leader said, “Lokhande assured us at the meeting that service lanes will be constructed on both the state and national highways that connect to JNPT. He also assured that the railway phatak will be opened soon.”

JNPT officials have said all steps are being taken to resolve traffic issues in the area. A man gives his horse a bath at Vashi on a humid Thursday afternoon.

The Kopar Khairane police have arrested two employees of a wine shop in Ghansoli area for allegedly assaulting a customer over a trivial matter.

The two arrested are Santoshkumar Yadav and Aniket Gaikwad. The incident occurred around 9.30pm on Wednesday at Meena wine shop in Sector 5.

According to senior police inspector of Kopar Khairane police station Satish Gaikwad, “The complainant Chandan Rajpal told us that he had gone to the shop and handed over money to buy some items. When he did not get his order even after 5-10 minutes, he questioned the staff at the counter. The staffers claimed that he had not given any money.”

Gaikwad said, “This led to an argument between the two. Suddenly, a shop employee attacked Rajpal with a stick. He had to be taken to a hospital where he had to take stitches.”

He said, “After the complaint, we investigated into the matter and arrested the two accused.”

He added, “We will send a report on the issue to the prohibition department against the wine shop. There have been complaints about people drinking outside wine shops. We will support all action planned by the excise department to curb the menace.”

The city and industrial development corporation (Cidco), this week, has decided to call tenders for constructing an electric crematorium in Sector-14, Kharghar. The project is expected to cost around Rs1 crore.

Over 400kg of wood is required to cremate one body. It leads to the environment being destroyed and also leads to an expenditure of Rs2,000 to Rs3,000. Many families are unable to afford the cost and hence the electric crematorium will be a good option for them.

RM Pusalkar, Cidco executive engineer, Kharghar, “Our aim is to curb the cutting of trees in jungles, conserve the environment and reduce pollution. The electric crematorium is being set up in this context.”

“In case of power failure, we have a generator on a standby,” said Pusalkar.

“Around 40kg of ash gets accumulated once a body is burnt. It is usually released in ponds and rivers causing water pollution. Through the gas chamber, the entire body is burnt in about 90 minutes. The crematorium’s chimney will be 30m high which will prevent air pollution,” said Pusalkar.

Tenders for the project are expected to be called soon. Kharghar’s population has reached almost 4lakh and is expected to rise manifold in the next few years.

There is just one crematorium in Kharghar for the Hindu community and one burial ground for the Muslim community.

BACHCHAN KUMAR