SHILLONG, March 8: The Meghalaya government is keen on building more eco-friendly crematoriums to add to the state’s count of such establishments, Forest & Environment Minister James PK Sangma said during the Budget session of the Assembly on Monday.
Meghalaya, as of now, has 26 eco-friendly crematoriums across various districts, he informed.
The minister was replying to a question raised by Mawphlang Independent MLA, Syntar Klas Sunn, during the Question Hour. “We will set up the eco-friendly crematoriums depending on the availability of funds. We have so far supported the construction of 26 eco-friendly crematoriums,” James said. He informed that the government had taken up the construction works of 22 eco-friendly crematoriums between 2012 and 2014 through awards received from the 12th and 13th Finance Commission.
The government had entered into an agreement with Seinraij Jowai to share the design of the eco-friendly crematorium invented by (L) Kambel Shullai on February 13, 2019, he added.
Earlier, Sunn had enquired about the status of issuing no-objection certificate by the district administration with regard to the construction of eco-friendly crematoriums at Mynsoo village in West Jaintia Hills.
The MLA bemoaned that the people of indigenous faith had to approach the court of law seeking construction of crematoriums.
Maintaining that the government is impartial, James assured to look into the issue flagged by Sunn.
