Saved trees worth Rs 950 crores in Aurangabad: PRESPL

Punjab Renewable Energy Systems Private Limited (PRESPL) has claimed to have achieved a historic milestone in its flagship Eco-Cremation Initiative. Since July 2022, PRESPL has supplied Rs 1.005 crore worth of biomass briquettes to 34 crematoriums across Aurangabad, facilitating 6,360 eco-friendly cremations that have saved an estimated Rs 950 crores in national asset value by preventing deforestation.

From Wood to Briquettes: The Journey of Change

PRESPL said that each traditional cremation requires 400–500 kg of wood, often sourced from two full-grown trees aged 10–15 years. Biomass briquettes require 30% less fuel with higher calorific efficiency (3600–3800 kcal/kg vs. 2500–3000 kcal/kg for wood).

PRESPL’s intervention has directly impacted air quality, carbon emissions, and forest conservation in the city.

The Aurangabad Municipal Corporation, with PRESPL’s support, modified 86 pyres across the city and facilitated over 90% adoption rate in 2025.

This behavioural transformation reflects strong on-ground acceptance, cultural respect, and PRESPL’s vendor engagement strategy.

Lt. Col. Monish Ahuja, (R) CMD, PRESPL and Chairman, CBEII said, “We are deeply honored to have facilitated a shift in how India says goodbye to their loved ones. The savings of Rs 950 crores in ecological value are not just financial—they represent preserved oxygen, carbon sinks, and our national heritage.”

PRESPL is implementing similar eco-cremation models in cities like Pune, Delhi, Ahmednagar, Varanasi and Guwahati. With growing municipal collaboration and increasing social receptiveness, the model is poised for national replication. The Confederation of Biomass Energy Industry of India (CBEII) continues to urge policymakers to formalize biomass briquettes as the default sustainable fuel for crematoria across India.