Sumedha Sharma
Tribune News Service
Gurugram, May 12

Amid rising Covid deaths, environmentalists of Millennium City have urged the Haryana Government to approve the use of cow dung for cremation instead of wood.

Up against the state Urban Local Bodies’ reported demand for 20,000 tonnes of wood from the Forest Department, local environmentalists have asked the state government to allow use of cow dung cakes in crematoriums and revoke the decision that permits felling of trees amid the statewide lockdown.

Environmentalists put forth suggestions

• The Gurugram MC has raised a demand for 3,600 tonne wood, followed by Faridabad (2,100 tonne) and Bhiwani (2,000 tonne).
• Not only environmentalists, but also people residing near cremation grounds have flagged the issue of discomfort due to smoke

“Times when people are struggling for oxygen, we must understand that every tree should to be saved. At 3.6 per cent, Haryana is infamous for its lowest forest cover. Cities like Delhi, Nagpur, Bhopal and Varanasi have already taken the lead by replacing wood with cow dung cakes for cremation. Why are we still sticking to the outdated method?” reads a letter shot to Chief Secretary Vijay Vardhan by Vaishali Rana Chandra and Vivek Kamboj, noted environmentalists.