Chennai: The Chennai corporation has sought the support of city police in checking the proliferation of Plaster-of-Paris (P-o-P) idols during Vinayaka Chaturthi celebrations. At a recent review meeting, chaired by the Chennai collector, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board submitted that P-o-P idols were not being produced within Chennai. “Most of the P-o-P idols cross over from Andhra Pradesh and other states,” said an official.
With the help of city police, the corporation seeks to limit the infiltration of such idols. “The police have been alerted to the situation. If they can step up vigil at toll plazas, then P-o-P idols can be stopped,” the official added. According to officials, the board and the Chennai collectorate have instructed the corporation to clear debris from along the seashore.
“A week from tomorrow, there will be various groups immersing the idols at different spots in the city. The leftover remains on the sea shore are to be cleaned up immediately is what we have been told, including the remains that will wash up after a few days,” said an official.
In Chennai, there are five major areas where idols would be immersed. Ennore, Tiruvottriyur and Neelankarai in the expanded limits and Kasimedu and Pattinapakkam (Marina Beach) in the core city limits are the prominent spots.
“We have notified Zones one, four, five, nine, 13, 14 and 15 as these are the areas with coastline wards. Conservancy operations will have workers doing double shifts to immediately clean up the mess,” the official added.
Meanwhile, officials are also keeping an eye out on water bodies located within city limits. Though, within city limits, permission is granted to immerse idols only in the sea, idols of smaller sizes often end up in small water bodies.
“We are wary of the locals who would just throw the smaller sized idols into drinking water sources. So, places like Retteri and the Porur lake will be monitored,” an official said.
Officials also noted that the police have been requested to conduct check on idols before granting permits for erecting idols and processions. “It is not enough to check the idol before it is immersed. Most of the times, we get reports that P-o-P idols are being used in processions. When our field officials go to take action, we get into trouble,” an official said.
“We can avoid religion and caste issues if police would just inspect it beforehand,” said an official. Violators caught with P-o-P idols will be penalised and cases registered against them for causing environmental damage, officials said.
