From Our Correspondent
JOWAI: The Minister for Soil and Water Conservation, Education etc. Dr R C Laloo inaugurated the Eco-friendly Crematorium or ‘Ka Khnap Thangbru’ of the Dorbar Shnong Niamtre, Mihmyntdu on Friday in the presence of the Additional Chief Secretary, PBO Warjri, PWD Secretary, S B Chyrmang, Forest officials, elders of the village among other residents.
The construction of the Crematorium was funded by the State Forest Department with an estimated amount of Rs. 15.43 lakh.
This Eco-friendly crematorium will be the ninth Crematorium constructed so far in Khasi and Jaintia hills. According to Sein Raij President, O R Challam 11 more crematoriums are under construction and villages such as Shella and Nongthymmai, (Shillong) have also approached them for the design.
The constructions of all the crematoriums as well as those under construction are based on the model designed by Late Kambel Shullai who passed away about a week ago.
The Sein Raij Jowai has the right ownership of Kambel’s
design of the crematorium and any organisation wishing to construct such eco-friendly crematoriums are to obtain prior permission from the Sein Raij Jowai.
The District Forest Officer, W S Manner informed that the crematorium constructed at Mihmyntdu was the first project that was funded by the forest department.
“The crematorium would help the people of the village save both time and money”, said Dr. Laloo. “When a member of the village dies, we cremate their bodies openly using huge quantity of firewood and that takes a lot of time, but with the introduction of the electric crematorium, less firewood will be needed which will infact save money and protect our environment”, he added.
Other who spoke on the occasion were Warjri, the Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner, T Dkhar, PWD Secretary, SB Chyrmang, headman of Mihmyntdu and the President Dorbarshnong Niamtre, Abul Phawa who chaired the inaugural function.