Giving a call for an eco-friendly Ganeshotsav this year, the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (PCB) has asked city-zens to celebrate the occasion without polluting the surroundings. In a message, the Board said that people should be more cautious and not celebrate at the cost of natural water bodies.
The Board has given clear directives that the idols used for immersion should be made of natural clay. Idols made out of materials that would adversely affect the water bodies should be avoided, it said.
Moreover, the Board has also cautioned the people against immersing the idols in wells, lakes and rivers as it causes serious impact on these water bodies. The immersion of idols should be done only in specified areas, the Board added.
Further, it also recommended against the use of harmful paints in the idols which has always been a concern for causing water pollution. Instead, the Board wants the use of only natural colours to decorate the idols.
Before the idols are immersed, all the accessories such as flowers, leaves and chains used for decoration have to be removed as they could lead to much pollution. All these accessories should be collected separately and disposed of without adversely affecting the surroundings.
The Board has also instructed that plastic cups and bottles used at the time of the procession should not be thrown away in the streets.
It has also called for using crackers that produce mild sound and less smoke.