Councillors have once again called for legal action over open-air cremations which continue despite the practice being outlawed in 2018.
Southern Municipal Council members say the procedure violates multiple environmental and public health laws and must be stopped immediately.
They added that the method of disposing of bodies, customary in some cultures, continues in Askar, raising serious concerns from residents of nearby communities, including in Khalifa Town, Jaw and Askar itself.
The council is insisting that the time has come to modernise funeral practices in line with environmental laws, while religious representatives are calling for practical solutions that respect both tradition and sustainability.
“Traditional Hindu cremations are still continuing in Askar despite the practice constituting a breach of the 2022 Environment Law, the 2018 Public Health Law and the 2019 Public Cleanliness Law,” said council chairman Abdulla Abdullatif, who is leading the renewed push for a ban.
“In 1996, when the land was gifted to the Hindu community by the late Amir HH Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, outdoor cremations were the norm.
“But today, we must adhere to modern environmental standards. Electric crematoriums are cleaner, safer and more hygienic.”
He added that the land in Askar, gifted nearly three decades ago, was given to the community with the understanding it would be developed into a proper facility; but this has never materialised.
“The area being used is close to residential zones. People fear the smoke may carry harmful substances that could impact their health. We cannot ignore these concerns,” said Mr Abdullatif, who received a petition from area councillor Ali Al Shaikh.
“If burning garden waste is against the law, how can we justify burning human bodies in the open?”
According to Mr Abdullatif, around 25 cremations are carried out annually in the area, all of which he says violate environmental emission regulations.
The council has sent letters to the ministries of Health, Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, and Interior to determine whether permits are being issued for these cremations.
Another letter is being prepared for Oil and Environment Minister Dr Mohammed Bin Daina, questioning why the Supreme Council for Environment has not enforced the regulations.
“There are no permits for emissions, fumes or particulates resulting from these cremations. The Supreme Council for Environment has to act, or the law loses its meaning,” he said.
The council is proposing that all cremations be relocated to the licensed medical waste incinerator in Awali, which has the proper regulatory approvals.
While a traditional cremation costs BD150, an electric one can cost up to BD800.
Mr Abdullatif suggested that subsidised arrangements could be negotiated with the Awali facility to ease the financial burden on the community.
Responding to the concerns, Sri Krishna Hindu Temple honorary chairman Mahesh Bhatia told the GDN that the cost and logistics of shifting to electric cremations are significant challenges.
“The crematorium would cost at least BD2,000 per month to operate. With only about 18 to 25 cremations a year, maximum 25, the expense is not sustainable compared to the traditional method,” he added.
“In India and Nepal, where electric crematoriums are viable, the high population and death rate help cover costs; this is not the case in Bahrain.
“However, we are seriously looking into electric cremation as an option.”
He also emphasised that the current site is located on private, confined land, far from populated areas, and that no cremation is performed without prior approval from the relevant ministries.
“We respect the law and are open to dialogue. But the facility in Awali is currently not operating, so at the moment, we have no alternative. Nothing official has been communicated to us yet from the council or the government,” he added.
Mr Bhatia expressed hope that authorities would reconsider the environmental licensing concerns and work with the community to reach a mutually respectful solution.
This issue has drawn international attention in the past. In October 2018, the council reaffirmed its stance on banning traditional cremations following a clarification from the UN, emphasising that the decision was based on public health and environmental considerations, not religious discrimination.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))