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MILIND GHATWAI
VADODARA, NOV 25: The sun has always been considered the `life giver' in India. Now it will speed people on their last journey as well, with the world's first-ever solar crematorium, to be set up in Valsad, nearing completion.
The 50 sq metre glass-and-steel solar dish, which will reflect the sun's rays on a specially constructed coffin, is almost ready. Wolfgang Scheffler from Switzerland, an expert in the use of solar energy, is camping in Vadodara's Himalaya Machineries to oversee its erection.
``It's similar to an electric furnace, only the heat source will be different. I am confident it will work,'' Scheffler, who is involved in the world-wide promotion of solar energy, says.
The dish will be transported to Valsad's crematorium soon. Once the coffin is constructed, the solar crematorium will become operational. ``It will take about two to three hours for the body to be reduced to ashes,'' says Deepak Gadhia of the Valsad-based Gadhia Solar Energy Systems Pvt Ltd.
The solar dish will createtemperatures in the range of 1000 degree C. Gadhia says this will save the approximately 300 kg of firewood used for every cremation.
The crematorium would have a dual-fuel arrangement, he adds. When clouds shroud the sun, the staff will always have the option of using electricity. Most people prefer cremation during the day.
Though aware of the apprehensions the electric furnace evoked among people on introduction, both Scheffler and Gadhia are confident the solar crematorium will find acceptance. Already, there have been a few inquiries from places as far off as Orissa.
The concept was mooted by Raman Panwala of the Teethal-based Satya Saibaba Trust, who had approached Gadhia wanting to know whether solar energy could be used for the last rites. Panwala's idea was that since electricity could be used in cremation, why not energy from one of the elements? Gadhi immediately got in touch with Scheffler, who had helped him in setting up the world's largest solar cooker at the Brahmakumaris World Academy,Mount Abu. The cooker feeds up to 30,000 people a day.
Scheffler says though the idea of using solar energy for cremation had crossed his mind, he was not sure whether the concept would find any takers in India.
Work on the crematorium started about 15 months ago. The dish alone costs about Rs 10 lakh, but the cost could be brought down if it is manufactured on commercial basis, says Gadhia.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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This story was printed from Net Express located at http://www.expressindia.com. Net Express provides a portal to India, with news from The Indian Express and The Financial Express along with sites on travel and tourism, the entertainment industry, the power sector, the environment and much more.
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