Green Cremation: A Sustainable Alternative to Traditional Pyres

A Gaushala at the Ghat: Kolkata’s Green Cremation Revolution

Nimtalla Ghat, one of Kolkata’s oldest and most revered cremation grounds on the banks of the Hooghly River, has quietly become the site of a remarkable environmental turnaround. Since 2020, the Prerna Foundation—under the visionary leadership of Shri Pawan Tibrewal—has partnered with the Kolkata Municipal Corporation to introduce cow dung logs as an alternative to traditional wooden pyre cremations.

The results have been nothing short of inspiring. With around ten cremations conducted daily, each ceremony now avoids the burning of approximately 200 kg of timber. Carbon emissions are down. Forest pressure is reduced. A centuries-old ritual now coexists with ecological conscience.

Notes
Yet, for all its promise, this initiative faces a fundamental constraint—one that only the Government can resolve. There is not enough cow dung.

Today, cow dung logs are manufactured by the Calcutta Pinjrapole Society at their Gaushala in Sodepur—a facility located at a considerable distance from the ghat. The transportation costs involved in moving heavy logs from Sodepur to Nimtalla are substantial, making the supply chain expensive, slow, and weather-dependent. During the monsoon season, when road conditions worsen and dung drying is compromised, supply frequently falls short. Cremations then revert to wooden logs by default, undoing the environmental gains that months of advocacy and effort have built. This is not a minor operational hiccup—it is a structural vulnerability at the heart of an otherwise sound programme.

Idea
The solution is straightforward and time-tested: a government-supported Gaushala established in proximity to Nimtalla Ghat and the adjoining Bhootnath Shiva Temple. A gaushala at this location would eliminate transportation costs entirely, ensure year-round supply, and transform the green cremation programme from a fragile pilot into a permanent, self-sustaining operation.


The Supply Problem That Limits a Scalable Solution

With approximately 100 cremations conducted at Nimtalla Ghat every day, only ten cremations can be done using cow dung. nearly two tonnes of cow dung ash are immersed in the Hooghly daily. The scale is significant—and so is its positive effect on the river. Yet behind this achievement lies a logistics challenge that quietly threatens the programme’s continuity.

Today, cow dung logs are manufactured by the Calcutta Pinjrapole Society at their Gaushala in Sodepur—a facility located at a considerable distance from the ghat. The transportation costs involved in moving heavy logs from Sodepur to Nimtalla are substantial, making the supply chain expensive, slow, and weather-dependent. During the monsoon season, when road conditions worsen and dung drying is compromised, supply frequently falls short. Cremations then revert to wooden logs by default, undoing the environmental gains that months of advocacy and effort have built. This is not a minor operational hiccup—it is a structural vulnerability at the heart of an otherwise sound programme.

The solution is straightforward and time-tested: a government-supported Gaushala established in proximity to Nimtalla Ghat and the adjoining Bhootnath Shiva Temple. A 100 cattle gaushala at this location would eliminate transportation costs entirely, ensure year-round supply, and transform the green cremation programme from a fragile pilot into a permanent, self-sustaining operation.

Why a Gaushala? The Multiplier Effect of One Decision
An Open Appeal to the Government of West Bengal, Kolkata Municipal Corporation, and Relevant State Bodies

A government-allocated Gaushala near Nimtalla Ghat would create cascading benefits across five domains:

•     Uninterrupted supply of cow dung logs: On-site dung collection and log manufacturing would eliminate dependency on external, irregular suppliers—ensuring year-round availability and making the green cremation programme truly sustainable.

•     Shelter for urban stray cattle: Kolkata’s streets are home to a significant population of abandoned and injured cows. A gaushala in proximity to a major urban hub would offer dignified shelter, veterinary care, and protection—addressing a growing animal welfare and public safety concern.

•     Gobar Gas (Biogas) generation: Surplus dung can fuel biogas plants, supplying clean cooking and lighting energy—reducing dependence on LPG and fossil fuels for both the ghat’s operations and nearby communities.

•     Organic by-products for agriculture: Processed dung and ash can be distributed or sold as organic compost and fertiliser, supporting urban farming and green economy initiatives in the region.

•     Livelihood and skill development: Gaushala operations—from log production to veterinary assistance to biogas management—can generate meaningful employment for marginalised workers, linking environmental action to social equity.

India Has Shown the Way: The Nagpur Model and a National Movement

West Bengal need not start from scratch. Across India, municipal corporations have already proven that green cremation is not just feasible—it is scalable, cost-effective, and publicly accepted. The most compelling precedent comes from Maharashtra.

Nagpur Municipal Corporation: India’s First Declared Eco-Friendly Crematorium

The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) holds the distinction of operating Ambazari Ghat—declared India’s first eco-friendly crematorium. The transformation began with dung cakes and evolved into a sophisticated agro-waste briquette programme called ‘Mokshakashtha’ (meaning ‘wood for salvation’)—pioneered by social entrepreneur Vijay Limaye of the Eco-Friendly Living Foundation. The initiative received a 100% subsidy from NMC and earned praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Key outcomes from Nagpur’s experience:

•     Wood saving: Each wooden cremation requires approximately 350 kg of wood (equivalent to two fully grown trees of 18–20 years). Eco-friendly blocks require only 250 kg—a 30% reduction per cremation.

•     Speed: Cremation using eco-friendly blocks takes roughly two hours—half the time of wood-based cremation (four hours), reducing both family waiting time and pollutant exposure.

•     Scale: The pilot began at one crematorium in 2016 and expanded to five NMC crematoriums by 2019. At peak, 250 bodies per month were cremated using eco-friendly material, with 20 tonnes of briquettes stocked at each facility.

•     Trees saved: Over 18,000 cremations using Mokshakashtha in three years saved an estimated 36,000 adult trees from felling.

•     Farmer benefit: Agricultural residue—otherwise burnt in fields, contributing to Delhi’s notorious winter smog—is now purchased from farmers as raw material for briquettes, creating a clean income stream for rural communities.

Importantly, the Nagpur experience also confirmed that dung cakes alone are difficult to scale in urban settings due to supplier pricing volatility and inconsistent availability—the very challenge Kolkata faces today. Nagpur’s answer was a local, institutionalised supply chain. Kolkata’s answer must be the same: a gaushala at the ghat.

A Growing National Consensus

Nagpur is not alone. According to the Kashi Mokshdayini Samiti, cow dung-based cremation practices are already active in Jaipur, Rohtak, Jalgaon, Indore, Raipur, Rourkela, and Kolkata. The South Delhi Municipal Corporation has formally approved cow dung cakes at cremation grounds. Varanasi’s administration is actively pushing the transition. The Bhopal ‘Go-Kashth’ model—scientifically validated by a Central Pollution Control Board scientist—has further demonstrated that cow dung logs can replace coal and wood across not just crematoriums but brick kilns, boilers, and domestic fuel as well.

Every one of these cities began with one decision by one municipal body. West Bengal has the opportunity—and the obligation—to be next. And with a gaushala at Nimtalla Ghat, it has the chance to go further than any of them.

The River Already Speaks: Scientific Validation

The environmental benefits of the cow dung log cremation model are not theoretical—they are observable. The ash immersed daily in the Hooghly is rich in minerals and organic matter that act as natural water purifiers, improving river quality at a time when the Ganga-Hooghly system faces unprecedented pollution pressure.

Scaling this model—which a dedicated Gaushala would enable—directly amplifies these riverine restoration outcomes. It aligns with the Namami Gange Programme and West Bengal’s stated environmental commitments. The Hooghly would not merely be a recipient of ritual; it would become a beneficiary of policy.

Our Appeal to the Government of West Bengal

Save Cows India Charitable Trust respectfully urges the following state government bodies to act with urgency and vision:

•     Government of West Bengal (Department of Animal Resources Development): Identify and allocate suitable government land in the vicinity of Nimtalla Ghat for the establishment of a licensed Gaushala.

•     Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC): Extend administrative support and infrastructure facilitation for gaushala operations, and integrate the cow dung log supply chain formally into Nimtalla Ghat’s cremation management.

•     State Pollution Control Board: Recognise and certify the cow dung cremation and ash immersion model as a sanctioned green practice, facilitating regulatory clearance for gaushala and biogas operations.

•     CSR and Public-Private Partnership Cell: Invite CSR contributions from India Inc. to co-finance Gaushala construction, Gobar Gas plant installation, and long-term operational costs under Section 135 of the Companies Act.

A Replicable Model for Kolkata’s Riverside Townships

The Gaushala + Green Cremation model need not be limited to Nimtalla Ghat alone. Kolkata’s rapidly growing riverside townships—developed by prominent real estate companies along the Hooghly—represent a powerful, untapped opportunity to mainstream this model at scale.

Large integrated townships such as Alcove New Kolkata Township, Calcutta Riverside - Batanagar Project house thousands of residents and, in many cases, already include or plan cremation facilities for their communities. Each of these townships is ideally positioned to adopt a self-contained Gaushala + Cremation model within their premises—generating their own cow dung log supply on-site, operating biogas plants for clean energy, and immersing purifying ash into the very river that defines their identity.

For real estate developers, this represents a compelling CSR and green branding opportunity—one that is deeply rooted in local culture, scientifically validated, and visible to every resident. We urge township developers and the West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (WBHIDCO) to consider integrating this model into their township planning frameworks.

What begins at Nimtalla Ghat can ripple outward along the entire Hooghly riverfront— from government ghats to private townships—creating a corridor of ecological responsibility that future generations of Kolkatans will inherit with pride.

What We Are Asking For

Our ask is specific and singular: Government land near Nimtalla Ghat for the construction and operation of a Gaushala. Save Cows India Charitable Trust, in partnership with committed civil society organisations and CSR donors, is prepared to take responsibility for fund mobilisation, gaushala construction, day-to-day operations, and impact reporting.

The Government’s role is the land. Our role is everything else.

Conclusion: From Pilot to Policy

What began as one foundation’s idea in 2021 has proven itself in practice. Nimtalla Ghat now stands as a living demonstration that ecological restoration and cultural tradition are not in conflict—they can reinforce each other, beautifully.

But a pilot, without policy support, remains fragile. A gaushala—backed by government land and institutional will—transforms this from an experiment into a replicable model for every cremation ground across West Bengal and, indeed, India.

The Hooghly carries the prayers of millions. Let it also carry the proof that we governed wisely.

Reference

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