Varanasi’s Manikarnika Ghat to introduce eco-friendly cremation chambers

One of the oldest ghats in Varanasi and the world’s largest cremation ground, Manikarnika Ghat, will soon be having a “greenatorium” which will use an eco-friendly method of combining wood and electricity inside the chamber to cremate dead bodies. In addition to this, the Shamshan Bhoomi will receive a modern makeover, and Harishchandra Ghat, another cremation site in the holy city, is also undergoing similar preparations.

As part of a number of development projects that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch or lay the cornerstone for during his two-day visit to his parliamentary seat, the alterations at Manikarnika Ghat, which sees about 150 cremations each day, have been made. He will also give a speech at a public gathering in Wazidpur, Kashi, and formally open or lay the groundwork for ₹12,000 crore worth of development projects.

The cremation sites in Kashi, particularly Manikarnika Ghat, will receive a makeover from Planner India, according to the Uttar Pradesh government. A ‘greenatorium’ will be put in place as the initial modification, per a plan. The ‘greenatorium’ will not allow any harmful gases and heat to escape into the atmosphere. The body will be cremated by the help of an electric heater while the residual gases will be eliminated via vapor form. The agency will also ensure the construction of a wood plaza, a visitor’s shelter, more cremation bases on the banks of the Ganga, suitable parking and change facilities, and installing greenatoriums at Manikarnika Ghat.

A state government spokesperson said that the government is “engaged in mission mode to make the crematorium at Manikarnika Ghat, one of the iconic places of the country, modern and accessible”. The funds for redevelopment work would be done from CSR funds, the spokesperson added. The anticipated costs for the makeover project of the Manikarnika Ghat is ₹17.56 crore according to an official of the planning company.