The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has equipped 33 crematoriums with air pollution control systems aimed at significantly reducing harmful emissions from traditional wood-based funeral pyres.
The move reflects the city’s broader effort to transition towards eco-sensitive urban practices and aligns with national goals of achieving sustainable, carbon-neutral cities. The air pollution control (APC) systems, installed over the past year across multiple cremation facilities, function by directing the smoke from burning pyres into specialised water scrubbers. These scrubbers act as filtration chambers, capturing particulate matter and other toxic pollutants before the emissions are released into the atmosphere. According to civic officials, the initiative is expected to bring measurable improvement in local air quality, particularly in residential zones adjacent to crematoriums that have long grappled with exposure to cremation smoke.
While electric and gas crematoriums are available across the city, a large proportion of final rites continue to be conducted using conventional wood pyres. Despite awareness campaigns and technological upgrades, the preference for traditional cremation methods persists, primarily driven by cultural and religious beliefs. This continued reliance on wood-based cremation has been identified as a contributor to urban air pollution, especially in densely populated pockets. Air quality experts have repeatedly flagged emissions from wood pyres as sources of particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), carbon monoxide, and other pollutants. These emissions not only degrade ambient air quality but also pose health risks to communities living near crematoriums. Residents in several areas of Pune have voiced concerns over the years, citing respiratory distress, eye irritation, and increased vulnerability to asthma and other health complications as direct outcomes of crematorium smoke.
To address a broader spectrum of environmental impacts, the PMC has also operationalised an animal incinerator at the Naidu Kothi premises. This facility is designed to manage the remains of pets and stray animals, which were previously cremated using open fires. The incinerator uses controlled combustion and is fitted with its own pollution control mechanisms to ensure minimal environmental impact. Civic officials involved in the project emphasised that while the technology is an important intervention, behavioural change is crucial to realising long-term sustainability. “The adoption of air control systems is a necessity, but the larger goal remains a societal shift towards greener, non-polluting last rites. It’s about respecting traditions while adapting practices that preserve public health and environmental integrity,” an official stated.
To facilitate this transition, the PMC is working with local environmental groups and community organisations to roll out awareness campaigns encouraging the use of electric and gas crematoriums. Initiatives such as the ‘Green Farewell’ campaign are being promoted, which advocate for reduced wood use, planting of trees in memory of the deceased, and other symbolic actions that honour both tradition and ecology. Urban environmentalists have lauded PMC’s initiative, calling it a “pragmatic blend of tradition and technology”. According to researchers, one of the challenges facing Indian cities is the balancing act between deeply rooted cultural practices and urgent environmental imperatives. The APC rollout in Pune could serve as a model for other municipalities looking to address emissions from non-industrial urban sources.
Financially, the project has been supported through PMC’s dedicated air quality improvement fund, sourced in part from state urban development grants. Officials indicated that each system costs approximately ₹15–20 lakh, including installation and initial maintenance. While this is a capital-intensive measure, civic engineers noted that the long-term benefits in terms of public health savings and environmental compliance far outweigh the upfront costs. Some concerns remain about the effectiveness of these systems during peak hours or under conditions of high wood use. In response, the PMC plans to conduct regular audits and air quality assessments in collaboration with academic institutions to monitor the impact and efficiency of the APC installations. “We want this to be data-driven,” a civic environment officer confirmed. “Scientific monitoring will guide future upgrades and expansions.”
Pune’s air quality has seen mixed trends in recent years. While vehicle emissions and construction dust have been the major contributors, non-industrial combustion, including crematoriums and open waste burning, has added to localised pollution spikes. According to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board’s data, Pune recorded PM2.5 levels averaging 45–60 µg/m³ during several months last year—well above the World Health Organization’s recommended safe levels. This context makes interventions like the crematorium APC systems all the more essential. They represent a small but significant step in the city’s larger journey towards environmental stewardship. Officials acknowledged that community cooperation will remain central to the success of this initiative.
In the long term, PMC aims to extend the model to other emission-intensive sectors. Talks are underway to explore similar pollution control mechanisms in waste processing and small-scale industries, where unregulated combustion remains a problem. By investing in both infrastructure and education, Pune is attempting to reshape how cities manage the intersection of culture, environment, and public health. In doing so, it joins a growing list of Indian cities confronting the urgent need to transition towards cleaner, more sustainable urban systems—without leaving behind the rituals that define their communities.
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