Vedic roots for green Ganpati ….Viju B & Chittaranjan Tembhekar
Centres New Guidelines Call For Simplicity And Seek Inspiration From Vedas
Centres New Guidelines Call For Simplicity And Seek Inspiration From Vedas
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has asked Ganpati mandals to return to the festivals Vedic roots and avoid the use of lead- and zinc-based paints, thermocol, Plaster of Paris (PoP) and toxic colours while make idols. With this new move towards an ecofriendly festival, CPCB hopes to reduce the damage to seas and lakes during visarjan. The rules also apply to idols of the Goddess Durga.
The CPCB guidelinesthat have been issued to all state control boardsclearly state that the paining of idols should be discouraged. In the event that idols have to painted, water soluble and non-toxic natural dyes should be used. The use of toxic and nonbiodegradable chemical dyes should be strictly prohibited, read the CPCB notice that also recommended metal idols, which can be used for subsequent festivals.
Worship material like flowers as well as decorations should be removed before the idol is immersed. Bio-degradable material should be collected separately for recycling or composting, while nonbiodegradable material must be disposed off properly in landfills. Other rules include the cordoning and barricading of idol immersion points as well as the use of synthetic liners to be placed in ponds and lakes in advance. The liner should then be removed on completion of the immersion ceremony so that remains of idols can be collected easily, the CPCB said.
Environmentalists and activists have welcomed the rules that even explain how ponds should be created for specifically immersion purposes. If the idol has to be immersed in the sea, it should be between low tide and high tide line. Motor boats with security and home guards with adequate safety equipment should be deployed to supervise the immersion, the guidelines said.
It is now up to pollution control boards of individual states to ensure that the rules are obeyed. The Maharashtra State Pollution Control Board should see to it that these guidelines are followed, and penalties should be levied accordingly, Sumaria Abdulali of Awaaz foundation said. MPCB officials, however, told TOI that they may implement the guidelines only from next year onwards. If the state government makes it a legislation we will strictly enforce the law. Its unlikely that we will enforce these rules this year. But we will create awareness among idol-makers. a senior official with the state environment ministry, adding that the demand for ecofriendly idols should come from consumers.
Environmentalists and activists have welcomed the rules that even explain how ponds should be created for specifically immersion purposes. If the idol has to be immersed in the sea, it should be between low tide and high tide line. Motor boats with security and home guards with adequate safety equipment should be deployed to supervise the immersion, the guidelines said.
It is now up to pollution control boards of individual states to ensure that the rules are obeyed. The Maharashtra State Pollution Control Board should see to it that these guidelines are followed, and penalties should be levied accordingly, Sumaria Abdulali of Awaaz foundation said. MPCB officials, however, told TOI that they may implement the guidelines only from next year onwards. If the state government makes it a legislation we will strictly enforce the law. Its unlikely that we will enforce these rules this year. But we will create awareness among idol-makers. a senior official with the state environment ministry, adding that the demand for ecofriendly idols should come from consumers.
KEY GUIDELINES
* Idols should be made of baked clay
* Thermocol, PoP, and zinc- and leadbased paints are not to be used
* Only water soluble and non-toxic natural dyes should be used. Toxic as well as non-biodegradable chemical dyes should be strictly prohibited
* Worship material like flowers and decorations should be removed before the idol is immersed
* Material must be segregated. Biodegradable material should be collected separately for recycling or composting, while non-biodegradable material must be disposed off properly in landfills
* Ponds and lakes should have removable linerssynthetic sheetsso that remains of the idols can easily be removed
* State pollution controls boards should conduct quality assessment of the water body, preferably in cities having a population of more than one lakh, at three stages: pre immersion, during immersion and post immersion
Penalties |
An offender can be booked under the Environmental Protection Act, and penalties include a fine of up to Rs 2 lakh and/or maximum jail time of five years