The CPCB has also recommended that “people should be encouraged to go for smaller idols” and suggested that immersions in the sea may be done beyond 500 metres of the low-tide line.
The recommendations were submitted to the Bombay High Court today in response to a public interest litigation filed by the NGO Janhit Manch seeking to restrain immersion of idols and nirmalya or pooja materials during festivals.
The CPCB said the “toxic chemicals used in making idols tend to leach and pose serious problems of water pollution”.
It also said that “studies carried out to assess deterioration in water quality due to immersion of idols have revealed that water quality gets deteriorated in respect of conductivity, bio-chemical oxygen demand and concentration of heavy metals”.
The CPCB’s recommendations are based on initiatives taken by state pollu tion control boards (SPCBs) in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal and also studies the CPCB itself conducted in Bangalore, Delhi and Kolkata.
The CPCB said the SPCBs should assess water quality at three stagespre-immersion, during immersion and post-immersion – and analyze the samples.
Further recommendations include constitution of a committee comprising the police, NGOs and representatives of religious groups for guiding the public in carrying out the immersion with “minimal adverse impacts on water bodies”.
“In case of immersions in rivers and lakes, temporary ponds or bunds can be con structed”, the CPCB said.
The CPCB also said flowers and decorating materials should be removed before the immersion, and left-over materials should be disposed of by local bodies within 24 hours and burning of solid wastes should not be allowed.
During the arguments, a division bench of Justice Bilal Nazki and Justice A P Deshpande observed that “you can’t have development of the 21st century and the environment of 13th century”. With increase in development and population this is bound to happen, the court remarked to the petitioner.
The bench has adjourned the case till June 11 for passing orders.