Chennai: Ganesha idols made only of raw clay or sago waste would be allowed for immersion. An order to this effect was passed by the state pollution control board. Idols made of plaster of Paris would not be allowed considering the pollution it causes to the coastal ecosystem.
The board is asking devotees to adopt eco-friendly measures to celebrate Vinayaka Chathurthi by using natural colours for idols and reducing their size too. Officials said more than 1,400 idols were immersed in the sea last year. Speaking to DC, officials said that water samples would be taken from Royapuram and Foreshore Estate where the immersion of Ganesha statues would be carried out 10 days after Vinayaka Chathurthi.
“Idols with chemical colourings will not be allowed for immersion. Devotees should immerse idols in places notified by the district administration and follow the guidelines of the pollution control board. We have requested devotees to celebrate the festival without polluting the environment,” officials said. They said that the responsibility of celebrating the festival without damaging the environment lies with the devotees.
Environmentalist Ramesh Karuppaiah said that pollution control board along with Hindu religious and charitable endowment department should define the size of idols and materials to be used for making the idols. “Pollution control board officials fail to check out the usage of chemical colours and plaster of Paris materials for idols during the immersion. So far no idols have been seized during immersion,” he said. Karuppaiah said that the number of idols should be reduced to cut down the pollution.
