Highlights:
- Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) orders preventing people from the immersion of idols at public places, including the Yamuna river
- If caught immersing idol, one can see getting fined by ₹ 50, 000 along with a maximum imprisonment of 6 years
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has ordered that idol immersions amidst the Durga Pooja will not be allowed at any public places which also includes the Yamuna river. Instead, the Pollution committee urged the public to rather immerse them at home in buckets or containers, saying the consequent pollution in rivers and lakes was a matter of concern.
In a notification, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee said, “Idol Immersions shall not be allowed during the forthcoming Durga Puja in any public place including river Yamuna or any other Water Body/Public Place/Ponds, Ghats.
“The idol immersion ritual may be performed within the home premises in a bucket or container”.
If anyone is caught immersing an idol in the Yamuna river, he/she can see getting booked for a fine of ₹ 50,000 along with an imprisonment of a maximum of 6 years. The notification further said, “It may be noted that the violation of directions issued under Section 33 A of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, or the rules made there under shall be punishable under section 41 of the said Act which includes imprisonment up to six years and with fine”.
Idol immersions shall not be allowed in any public places including the river Yamuna during the forthcoming Durga Pooja, says Delhi Pollution Control Committee pic.twitter.com/E2LHVX8CL9
— ANI (@ANI) October 14, 2021
The use of Plastic of Paris (PoP) or baked clay for making idols was forbidden and people were asked to rather make use of only natural materials like the traditional clay. The DPCC noted that the use of materials such as Dyes, Chemical Paints, Colours which are applied on such PoP idols contain hazardous chemicals that cause harmful effects on the aquatic life.
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When those life forms are consumed by humans, it could cancer among other diseases, including but not limited to respiratory ailments, skin infections, among others.
The Pollution control committee also said that worship material including the decorating materials which are made of paper, flowers, among others should be removed before the immersion of the idols, and may be collected separately for disposal in an environmentally safe manner such as handing over to the door-to-door waste collection vehicles.
