‘Crematorium fumes making our lives hell’, say elderly residents of Vasai West

The crematorium does not have chimneys. It is a century-old crematorium ground at Vasai West. Pics/Hanif Patel

Thick black smoke emanating from the crematorium ground at Diwanman of Vasai West has made life difficult for thousands of local residents, most of whom are senior citizens and have underlying diseases such as chronic heart ailment and asthma.

Avinash Kuse, resident of a nearby housing society, said, "This crematorium ground has no chimney and the thick black smoke from the pyre spreads in the surrounding." He added that the crematorium, which used to get only one or two bodies a day, has been getting several bodies as all non-COVID bodies from nearby areas are brought here, leading to long queues.

"We have to cover our noses even at home due to the nauseating smell. The municipal corporation must do something to resolve this," Kuse said.

It is a century-old crematorium ground which was away from Diwanman village but after the fast development of real estate in Vasai, the residential complexes and market area were made.

Another local Praveen Nalawade said that over a dozen housing societies are affected due to the toxic fumes. "The fumes are weakening our immunity amid the pandemic.

It is also leading to loss of appetite. This is alarming and it must be resolved at the earliest," he said, adding that the crematorium was renovated twice but no chimney has been installed till date. "There are big towers and multiple housing societies in the area. Where should we go," he asked.

Local tea vendor Mohan Kharedi said, "I run a small business which was already marred in the lockdown. Now, the customers turn away from my shop when the toxic smell emanates from the crematorium ground."

A local, on the condition of anonymity, said the municipal corporation has turned blind eye to the issue. "Every crematorium ground needs to have a chimney so that the toxic fumes can be blown away in the sky. Why are civic officials not thinking of it," he asked.

Assistant municipal commissioner Gilson Gonsalves, when apprised of the problem, said, "None of them have contacted us so far. It is true that there is no chimney in the crematorium ground but it has been designed in a manner that the fumes will not spread in the surrounding area." "If local residents are facing difficulties due to the smoke, we will install a chimney to blow away the toxic fumes high above the sky," Gonsalves added.

Another resident Kalpesh Jasani said, "The problem aggravates when the wind blows and the toxic fumes enter residential complexes in the area. It smells a lot. The municipal corporation must install a chimney or simply make the facility an electric crematorium because people at large are affected by this."