CPCB releases Guidelines for Idol Immersion

[Samraj Sahay]

On festive occasions such as Vinayaka Chathurthi and Durga Puja, it has been a tradition in our country to immerse idols in rivers, lakes, ponds, estuaries, open coastal beaches, wells etc. Idol worship has been in the practice in India since ancient time.Idols were made with clay and then coloured with natural colours like Turmeric. The religious scripts, mythology and rituals have attempted to drive the importance of preserving nature by adoring it through the centuries.
How ever presently metals, ornaments, oily substances, synthetic colours, chemical are used to make polish and decorate idols for worship and when these idols are immersed our aquatic and surrounding environment get severally affected. Pollution of water bodies due to immersion of idols has been a matter of concern and there have been publicinterest litigations as well.Keeping this in view and and in pursuance to the directions of the Hon’ble Bombay High Court, CPCB has come out with Guidelines for immersion of idols and other puja materials reaching in the water bodies during festival.

The document includes guidelines for the local bodies, idol immersion in lakes, rivers, sea and role of state pollution control boards.

How ever the problem of implementation of rules is still the biggest issue. Success of guidelines and rules depends on how effectively they are imposed and more over it all depends on peoples willingness and attitude towards conserving nature.

Follow the link below for the guidelines:

http://www.cpcb.nic.in/upload/NewItems/NewItem_159_Guideline_for_Id...