Delhi Bans Idol Immersion In Public Places, Yamuna; Only Home Immersions Allowed

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has issued a set of guidelines banning idol immersions in public places such as water bodies, ponds, ghats, or the Yamuna river.

Ahead of the conclusion of Durga Puja, the DPCC prohibited idol immersion in any water body and asked people to immerse them at home in buckets or containers, saying the consequent pollution in rivers and lakes was a matter of concern.

“Idol Immersions shall not be allowed during the forthcoming Durga Puja in any public place including river Yamuna or any other Water Body/Public Place/Ponds, Ghats. The idol immersion ritual may be performed within the home premises in a bucket or container,” it said in a notification.

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It said on festive occasions such as Durga Puja, it has been a tradition to immerse idols in water bodies like rivers, lakes, ponds, wells, among others, and the consequent pollution of such water bodies has been a matter of concern.

"Studies carried out to assess deterioration in water quality due to idol immersion reveal the deterioration of water quality in respect to conductivity, biochemical oxygen demand, and heavy metal concentration,” the pollution control body said.

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It has also forbidden the use of plaster of paris (PoP) or baked clay for making idols and insisted on the use of only natural materials like traditional clay, noting that the chemical paints, colours, and dyes applied on such PoP idols contain hazardous chemicals which cause harmful effects on aquatic life, which when consumed by humans may cause cancer and other diseases, including respiratory ailments, skin infections, among others.

The DPCC also said that worship material like flowers, decorating material (made of paper), among others, be removed before immersion of idols, and may be collected separately for disposal in an environmentally safe manner like handing over to door-to-door waste collection vehicles.

It also directed that composting of biodegradable material be carried out at home, if possible.