Velankadu crematorium at Anna nagar where quintals of flowers and leaves are wasted on a daily basis
Maintenance officials of the crematorium mixing the flowers with the byproduct in the box. (Photo: DC)
CHENNAI: In a first of its kind in the state, a city crematorium has started converting flowers and leaves that are used for the last rites into manure for use as a natural fertiliser for greenery in and around the space. The four-and-half acre Velankadu crematorium at Anna nagar on New Avadi Road has set a precedent for all the 214 crematoriums in the city where quintals of flowers and leaves are wasted on a daily basis.
“We have started this initiative after receiving training on organic farming and waste conversion by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) Information and Training (I&T) center on September 28,” said A.J. Hariharan, founder, Indian Community Welfare Organisation (ICWO) that maintains Chennai corporation’s crematoriums. Leaves and flowers like lilly, ‘samandhi’ and ‘white sampangi’ used for the last rites are collected mixed with bio-product mixtures such as earthworm to decompose in a compost pit for 40 to 45 days.
Also, the liquid byproduct can be collected through a hole beneath the compost pit every two days.
“On a daily basis we collect 200 to 250 kg of flowers from the crematorium,” he added. The manure will be used to nurture over 200 trees, mainly bamboo, neem, badam and other saplings that are grown in the area. “The bio-mineral combination is more effective and we are looking to introduce more such training programmes in the coming days,” said M.Devanathan, head of the department, TNAU centre, Anna Nagar.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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