Jhapa. Jhapa: An electric crematorium has been constructed at Kankai Ghat of Kankai Municipality-4 in Jhapa. The electric crematorium has been constructed at a cost of Rs 23 million with the support of koshi state government, Kankai municipality and various donors.

The Koshi state government has invested Rs 20 million, the municipality Rs 2 million and various donors Rs 1 million in the electric crematorium.

Kankai Municipality Mayor Rajendra Kumar Pokharel said an agreement has been reached with the state government to operate the electric crematorium. “We have formulated a procedure for the operation of the crematorium,” he said, adding, “Preparations are underway to operate the crematorium within a week.” ’

Gopal Kharel, general secretary of Kankai Ghat Management Committee and coordinator of the Electric Crematorium Infrastructure Construction Committee, said that the Indian technical team has returned after completing the construction of the electric crematorium.

He said the body of 80-year-old Hemti Rajbanshi of Panthapada of Jhapa rural municipality was cremated during a test on August 27. It will take about 50 minutes for a body to be cremated from an electric crematorium, he said. He said it would take three to three and a half hours to cremate the body using firewood.

The Koshi state government had allocated Rs 20 million in the budget for the fiscal year 2081÷82 BS for the construction of an electric crematorium in collaboration with the local level on the Kankai river.

With the completion of the project, the demand raised from the local level for the construction of an electric crematorium on the Kankai river has been addressed. Established in 2067 BS, Kankai Ghat has five funeral pyres in operation so far. With the operation of the electric crematorium, the wood used for cremation and time will be saved and it will also help in protecting the environment.