Shillong, September 22: Considering the ill effects on the environment due to use of harmful materials on making idols during festivals like Ganesh and Durga Puja, the Forests and Environment Department, Government of Meghalaya, has issued a press release creating public awareness on the use of such harmful materials and to take steps for strict implementation of existing rules and guidelines to conserve and prevent further damage to rivers, lakes and other water bodies of the State.
In a press release, the Department has stated that immersion of idols made of plaster of paris, cement and plastic in water bodies not only cause environmental damage but also has serious public health consequences. The paints used for decorating such idols contain harmful substances like mercury, zinc oxide, chromium and lead and cause significant stress on rivers, lakes and local ponds, adversely affect the quality of water, damage the aquatic ecosystem, block natural flow of water which results in soil and land degradation and potential causes of skin diseases and cancer.
The Department felt that there is an urgent need to discourage the use of such harmful materials considering the fact that less polluting and less harmful substitutes like paper and mud are easily available. Detailed guidelines have been formulated by the Central Pollution Control Board for idol immersion. The salient aspects of the guidelines include use of natural materials and traditional clay for idol making, discouraging painting of idols, promoting water soluble and nontoxic natural dyes, creating public awareness on ill effects of immersion and precautions to be taken while immersing idols at the identified idol immersion points, etc.
To ensure that non-dissolvable and non-biodegradable materials like plaster of paris, cement and other hazardous substances are not used in making idols, the State Environment Department, State Pollution Control Board and local bodies will strictly enforce the guidelines and idol immersion and provisions of Waste Management Rules.
