Bhubaneswar: The Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) has issued an advisory for Puja organizers and local administrations to ensure pollution-free Durga Puja, Laxmi Puja and Kali Puja this year.
The Member Secretary of the Board Dr. K. Murugesan has issued a public notice in different newspapers today appealing to the organisers and public to observe the pollution free festive season this year.
An ace environmentalist, Dr.Murugesan has advised Puja Committees and organisers to use natural clay for making of idols instead of baked clay, plaster of paris etc. He asked them to use water soluble and nontoxic natural dyes for painting of idols instead of toxic non-biodegradable chemical dyes.
Height of the super structure of the idol shall be limited to 40ft and of the idol shall be limited to 20ft in height, Member Secretary OSPCB suggested.
The Puja organizers have been asked to immerse idols only in all the identified immersion sites constructed by the District authorities or Local bodies.
Remove worship materials like flowers, decorating materials before immersion of idols and to be disposed of in municipal dump sites and make sure that they are not burnt near the immersion site, the Board told the Puja Committees.
It has advised them not to use single-use plastic or thermocol materials for decoration purpose and Prasad sevan or distribution.
The District authorities or Local bodies were asked to educate the public regarding water pollution caused by idol immersion and encourage purchase of eco-friendly idols made up of natural clay and coloured with natural dyes.
The Board has asked the local administrations to identify an adequate number of designated immersion sites and inform the Puja Committee authorities well in advance.
In case of immersion of idols in rivers and lakes, arrangements may be made for construction of temporary confined ponds with earthen buns and removable synthetic liner for the purpose of immersion of idols, it said.
Within 24 hours of the immersion, the leftover materials from the immersion site shall be removed for disposal at designated municipal dump site and the supernatant water may be allowed to flow into the river after adding lime to clear the water, the OSPCB said.
In its advisory, the Board has advised individual households to use only eco-friendly idols made of natural clay and bio-degradable materials as decorative and puja materials.
Immersion the idols at their homes in an eco-friendly manner or immerse the idols in the designated on-land temporary artificial ponds or tanks located nearby or artificial movable tanks arranged by the Local Bodies, it suggested.
As per the Odisha Prevention and Control of Water Pollution (Procedure for Immersion of Idol after Pujas) Rules, 2021, for violation of Rule 3 by idol makers, they may be prohibited from idol making for 2 (two) years by the concerned local bodies, warned the Board.
The deposition of the idol manufacturers towards registration fees will also be forfeited by the respective local body in addition to the prohibition of idol making for two years.
Further, for violation of Rules 5 and 6 by the Puja Committee Organisers, the concerned local bodies can impose a penalty on Puja Committee Organisers.
In case the Puja Committee is located in the Panchayat area, Rs. 3,000 fine will be imposed while Rs. 5,000 fine will be collected in case the Puja Committee is located in the area of Municipality or Notified Area Councils (NAC).
In case the Puja Committee is located in the area of Municipal Corporation like Bhubaneswar, the violating Puja Committee will have to pay Rs. 7,000, it said.