Mangaluru : The new electric fire chamber installed at the ‘Hindu Rudra Bhoomi’ (Hindu crematorium) at Boloor, managed by the Mangaluru City Corporation, inaugurated on Tuesday April 5.

Speaking after inaugurating the new facility, the MLA directed the corporation to install a new scrubber-cum-high-chimney at the crematorium and get approval for the same from the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB). Till that is done, the old chimney could be used.

The MLA asked the corporation to purchase a generator and commission it at the earliest. Installing the two new facilities would cost about Rs. 25 lakh. Mr. Lobo also instructed the corporation to put up a new roof for the electric fire chamber building.

He called upon people who lose prejudices against using the environment-friendly electric fire chambers.

He added that based on the success of the electric fire chamber at Boloor, the authorities would take a call on installing them at the Kadri and Nandigudda crematoriums.

The electric fire chamber at Boloor had been defunct for a decade. It was first introduced in 1990, and functioned till 2006. Once the chamber went out of the order, it was replaced with a liquefied petroleum gas-based fire chamber. This chamber was in use till 2011, when it also went out of service.

The corporation has spent around Rs. 20 lakh on this new facility — Rs. 13 lakh on the electric chamber and Rs. 7 lakh on the electric transformer.

Mayor of the Mangaluru City Corporation Harinath lit the lamp in the presence of other guests.

MCC commissioner Dr H N Gopalkrishna, former mayor Shashidhar Hegde, Congress leaders T K Sudheer and Mohan Mendon were present.