District Environment Officer Dr. Dodda Shanaiah urges citizens to celebrate the Gauri Ganesh festival using eco-friendly idols and materials.
CH News
Chikkaballapur
With the Swarna Gauri and Varasiddhi Vinayaka Chaturthi festivals approaching, the District Environment Officer, Dr. Dodda Shanaiah, has urged the public to celebrate responsibly and avoid harming nature. Traditionally, Plaster of Paris (POP) and painted idols are installed and later immersed in lakes, wells, and other natural water bodies. This practice pollutes water, alters its physical and chemical properties, threatens aquatic life, birds, and animals, and poses risks to public health.
To protect water resources, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board issued a notification on July 20, 2016, banning POP and painted idols. Citizens are requested to follow eco-friendly measures and celebrate the festival without endangering natural water bodies. Under the Water Pollution (Prevention and Control) Act, 1974, Section 33(A), making or immersing POP or painted idols is prohibited, and violations may attract action under IPS Section 1860.
During the festival, unpainted clay or natural idols should be used, and immersion should take place only at locations specified by the Municipal Council, Municipality, or Town Panchayat. Green waste such as flowers, fruits, bamboo poles, and mango garlands must be separated from idols and handed over to municipal garbage collection vehicles instead of being immersed in water.
Dr. Shanaiah emphasized that all public Ganesh idol celebrations should use only eco-friendly materials, avoiding banned plastics, to ensure the festival is joyous while conserving the environment.
