Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has temporarily shut down gas-fired crematoriums in the city following restrictions on the use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) components such as propane and butane.
Civic officials said the decision was taken after a directive from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on March 5, asking authorities to prioritise available LPG resources for domestic household consumption across the country. The restrictions come at a time when global energy supplies have been affected by the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
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Directive to Prioritise Household LPG Supply
According to PMC officials, the central government instructed local bodies to ensure that the available propane and butane reserves are primarily used for household cooking gas supply.
“In view of the shortage of gas, the civic body has decided to keep gas crematoriums closed from March 5 until further orders,” a municipal official said.
The move is part of broader measures aimed at maintaining stable LPG supply for domestic users amid disruptions in global fuel markets.
Electric and Wood-Based Facilities to Continue
Despite the shutdown of gas-powered furnaces, authorities have assured residents that funeral services will continue without interruption. Electric crematoriums and traditional wood-based cremation facilities equipped with air pollution control systems will remain operational.
Officials said these alternatives have been activated to ensure that the city’s funeral services function normally during the temporary suspension.
Vaikunth Crematorium Among Affected Facilities
One of the facilities impacted by the decision is the Vaikunth Crematorium in Pune’s Navi Peth area, one of the city’s largest cremation grounds.
The crematorium operates three LPG-powered furnaces, which have now been shut down temporarily. However, five electric furnaces at the facility will continue functioning.
According to PMC Executive Engineer Nilesh Kalekar, the available LPG stock had almost been exhausted, with the remaining supply sufficient for only two cremations. Each cremation typically requires about 18 kilograms of LPG.
West Asia Tensions Affect Global Energy Supply
The restrictions are linked to disruptions in global oil and gas supplies caused by the ongoing conflict in West Asia, particularly involving Iran and Israel. Energy market volatility has pushed governments worldwide to safeguard essential fuel supplies.
Government Assures Stable Domestic Supply
Meanwhile, Hardeep Singh Puri, India’s Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, said that domestic LPG distribution remains stable and that the country has sufficient energy reserves.
Authorities have emphasised that the temporary closure of gas crematoriums is a precautionary step aimed at ensuring uninterrupted cooking gas supply to households.
