PMC Installs 33 Air Pollution Control Systems At Crematoriums To Tackle Pune’s Air Quality Concerns

To address the air quality concerns in Pune, the Pune Municipal Corporation has installed the Air Pollution Control (APC) system at the 33 sheds in crematoriums across the city.

Additionally, it has installed an incinerator at Naidu Kothi for the cremation of pets and strays.

According to data shared by the PMC, at present, there are 12 electricity-run facilities in Pune, 22 gas-operated ones, one which functions both on gas and electricity, and 116 wood-based pyres.

While the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has been actively promoting eco-friendly methods like electric or gas-based cremations, most city residents continue to prefer traditional wood pyres. Meanwhile, residents living near these crematoriums have been raising concerns about worsening air quality, complaining that smoke from wood-based cremations is affecting their health and environment.

3 APCs at Vaikunth

Maximum APCs have been installed at Vaikunth Crematorium in Navi Peth—three APCs. This follows a report by the Free Press Journal that highlighted the claim by residents living in the Vaikunth area that they face increased pollution, which led them to file a Right to Information (RTI) application, challenging the PMC’s claims.

In Pune, Vaikunth is one of the busiest crematoriums. Traditionally, over 6,000 cremations used to be conducted here annually. However, the civic body has been promoting eco-friendly cremations like electric and gas-based methods, as well as the use of pyres made from cow dung cakes instead of wood. Due to this effort and increasing public awareness, the number of traditional wood-based cremations has come down.

Locals living near Vaikunth say they have felt no relief from smoke or air pollution despite PMC's claims. With no real-time pollution monitoring systems at the site, there’s no way to independently verify air quality improvements. Health complaints, particularly related to breathing and smoke exposure, still persist.

Cremation stats

According to the PMC’s data, Vaikunth crematorium saw a 25% reduction in cremation numbers over six months. However, the RTI data shows that the city recorded 805 cremations (52.7% of the city’s total) in December 2024, 816 cremations (41.2%) in January 2025, and 590 cremations (41.2%) in February 2025.

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