Explained: The idea behind Hyderabad's first multi-faith crematorium

Hyderabad now has its first multi-faith crematorium designed to serve Hindus, Christians and Muslims. Located at Uppal’s Fathullaguda in LB Nagar on the city’s eastern outskirts, the complex was inaugurated by Telangana’s Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Minister KT Rama Rao on Tuesday.

Named Mukti Ghat, the complex has been conceived as a model crematorium by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA). Spread across 6.5 acres, it has been built at a cost of Rs 16.25 crore. Funerals held here can also be watched online, allowing distant families to see their loved ones’ final rituals, officials said. The crematorium, built as per Pollution Control Board (PCB) norms, will have zero emissions.

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The Minister also inaugurated the newly built world-class animal crematorium at the GHMC Animal Care Centre in Fathullaguda, which will ensure dignified funerals for pet animals in a scientific manner. Commending the mayor, GHMC commissioner and team, Minister K T Rama Rao tweeted: “There are some efforts that show the humane face of governance. This initiative of Pet Animal Crematorium is one such.”

Aims to promote communal harmony

The city’s first-of-its-kind facility for the last rites of the dead souls of three main faiths aims to promote communal harmony. Of the entire area available, 2.5 acres have been earmarked for Hindus and 2 acres each for Muslims and Christians. The place was earlier a Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) yard used for dumping construction and demolition waste. According to an HMDA statement, all debris from the construction site has been removed.

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The ‘eco-friendly’ Hindu crematorium has two electric furnaces and a solar power plant of 140KW to meet power requirements. The Hindu cremation is outfitted with two electrical furnaces that will draw 90% of the power necessary from the solar power plant. A separate structure has been built to accommodate Hindu customs for the 10th day (Apara Karmas) rites.

The Muslim and Christian graveyards have a unique characteristic that enables for the burial of dead in three levels at any same location. They can accommodate nearly 550 bodies each. All three facilities feature their own office room, cold storage, prayer hall, watchman’s room, bathroom block, cars for the last journey, and parking space.

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There is also a separate area for performing post-death rituals. While HMDA’s urban forestry wing has developed greenery around the campus, a newly installed sewerage treatment plant, with a capacity of 50 kilolitres per day, will ensure water availability for maintenance of the landscape.Hydbad now has its first multi-faith crematorium designed to serve Hindus, Christians and Muslims. Located at Uppal’s Fathullaguda in LB Nagar on the city’s eastern outskirts, the complex was naugurated by Telangana’s Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Minister KT Rama Rao on Tuesday.