Following the directives issued by National Green Tribunal (Bhopal) regarding idol-immersion rituals, the State Housing and Environment Department on Wednesday issued a detailed circular to ensure better implementation of the guidelines of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
As per the guidelines, the idols should be made of natural clay while the departments concerned should discourage making and sale of the idols out of Plastic of Paris (PoP) and baked clay. While immersing the idols, flowers, cloth and other decorative items made of paper and plastic should be separated. These items should also not be burnt.
Principal Secretary, Housing and Environment and Chairman of Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board (CECB), N Baijendra Kumar issued the circular to all the district collectors, police superintendents and commissioners of all the Municipal Corporations.
The circuler also reads that if the idol-immersion ritual is performed in any river or lake then a temporary small pond should be developed there to immerse the idols in it, so that the entire reservoir can be saved from any possibility of spreading pollution.
People should be made aware regarding the immersion points and rules related to the process well in advance. There should be adequate safety arrangements at the immersion spot. A synthetic liner should install at the immersion point to facilitate the devotees. The liner should be removed after concluding the rituals to let all the idols properly dissolve by submerging into the water.
Bamboo, woods and such other items should be taken for re-use while the clay should be used for land-filling. In the circular, Kumar asked all the officials concerned to ensure all the rules be followed strictly.