Pollution bosses see red over immersion

NEW DELHI: Ganesha has been worshiped and the idols are being immersed; Durga idols are already in the process of being made the way they have been for decades: often with material that have been found to be polluting.

Waking up to the problem rather late for this year at least, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on Monday issued guidelines for using environment-friendly material in making idols of gods and goddesses.

Alarmed by the harmful effect that idol immersion has on the quality of water, the CPCB has advocated use of traditional clay instead of baked clay for making the idol.

It also wants all decorative materials and flowers to be removed from the body of the idol before it is immersed.

No guidelines were available at the time the idols were being made. Several Durga idols are already half-complete, according to Shankar Chakravarty of Aram Bagh Durga Pooja Samiti.

"These idols will have to be immersed after the pooja; that is the ceremony," he said.

As for the instructions for proper disposal of idols, these too are likely to remain on paper unless the municipal authorities ensure adherence to the prescribed norms.

Chakravarty, also said that no notice has reached any pooja samiti, nor were they contacted by any of the CPCB officials. "The only interaction there is, happens in the meeting with the police commissioner for traffic and other arrangements," he said.