Ten days of religious fervour has finally provoked thoughts of adopting environmentally conforming methods of bidding adieu to Goddess Durga as the civic administration and various puja committees focussed on idol immersion guidelines issued by Jharkhand Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) in the wake of clarion call to save water bodies from extinction and confessed of following environment friendly measures for idol immersion.
However, guidelines apart, various puja committees exhibited remarkable sense of responsibility in keeping the water bodies free of pollutants and desisted use of potentially hazardous materials for making idols and use of insoluble materials in idols.
“We used Ganga clay and similar materials to create idols so these things will not harm the water bodies as they will dissolve in the water. We used clay and paints made from natural substances for the Goddess’ attire. So we have ensured that the immersion causes no of insignificant harm to water bodies,” said Secretary of Bakri Bazaar Puja Samiti, Rahul Agarwal.
As host of measures were introduced by State Governments and urban civic body to save water bodies from pollution, few puja committees changed their style of immersion and adopted less popular methods to concede to the popular demands of preserving natural reservoirs in the capital.
"We departed from the earlier process of idol immersion. Contrary to the previous year, we brought two water tankers of 4000-litre each and sought water connection from houses nearby to disperse the idol by water pressure," said chairman of Durga Puja and Ravan Dahan Samiti, Sunil Sahu.
Notably, JSPCB's guidelines stipulate various measures with regard to making of idols , use of colours which must be adhered to by various puja committees for mitigating impact on the water bodies where the idols has been immersed at the end of the festival. The guidelines also made it mandatory for the devotees of Goddess to refrain from throwing plastic and other insoluble material into water.
Even as puja committees declared use of environment friendly steps for idol immersion, the Ranchi Municipal Corporation which is the implementing agency of the JSPCB's guidelines confessed of following the instructions of pollution control board as far as possible.
"As many as 2-3 people from RMC have been deputed at all the four water bodies earmarked for immersing idols. I have inspected all the places and arrangements from our end have been upto the mark. The guidelines were too broad so we could not implement all however we will enforce all provisions from next year," said Deputy Mayor, Sanjeev Vijaywargiya.
The municipal body earmarked Dhruwa Dam, Kanke Dam, line Tank Pond, and Ranchi lake for idol immersion and laid fish nets to take out insoluble materials thrown into the water bodies.