Idols immersed in Yamuna despite pollution committee ban

Several flouted the rules issued by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and immersed idols in the Yamuna river and other water bodies a day before the visarjan ritual. Yamuna Ghat at the ITO was found littered with idols and other religious materials on Saturday morning.

The DPCC had issued an order on October 13 banning idol immersion during Durga Puja and other forthcoming festivals in any public place. As per the order, immersion in the Yamuna or any other water body, ponds and ghats, is not allowed. Instead, idol immersion rituals may be performed in a bucket or container within home premises, the order said.

"Consequent pollution of such water bodies has been a matter of concern. In addition to silting, toxic chemicals used in making idols tend to leach out and pose serious problems of water pollution. Studies carried out to assess deterioration in water quality due to idol immersion reveal the deterioration of water quality in respect to conductivity, biochemical oxygen demand and heavy metal concentration," the order read. The DPCC also directed the District Magistrates to enforce the guidelines. As per the order, each violator will be liable to pay Rs 50,000 to the DPCC.

Yamuna, though most polluted in and around Delhi, also covers parts of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The top pollution sources of the river are sewage treatments plants, untreated water from unauthorised colonies, and sewer from authorised colonies. A clean and pollution-free Yamuna has been a poll promise of the Delhi government for over 25 years now.

"The prohibition of idol immersion in any public place including Yamuna imposed by DPCC is a welcome step especially in view of idols made of Plaster of Paris (PoP) or painted with lead-based paints. But it is hardly a measure to rejuvenate the river, which is already overloaded with sewage and toxic pollutants from industries," said Manoj Mishra, Convenor of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan.

"It is too early to say if Delhi government is delivering on its clean Yamuna promise, which is contingent to adequate flow in the river on which hardly any action is underway," he added.