MANSI BHAMBRI | Dehradun
Experts advised individuals to opt for the Visarjan of lord Ganesh idols in open water-filled containers at their homes rather than in water bodies to protect the State’s river ecosystem. The trend of celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi has expanded beyond Maharashtra and has become popular in Uttarakhand too in recent years. Many people in Dehradun are choosing to perform Ganesh Visarjan in rivers in Maldevta and Tapkeshwar. However, this practice often leads to contamination of the water with paints and other materials.
Experts said that the idols often contain toxic paint and materials that can adversely affect river ecosystems. The president of the Society of Pollution and Environmental Conservation Scientists (SPECS), Brij Mohan Sharma stated that despite claims of eco-friendly Ganesh idols, very few actually contain environmentally friendly elements. In the past, idols were made from organic materials and pure colours. However, many of the current idols are coated with toxic paints that include both metallic and non-metallic elements, which can significantly harm water bodies, including the fauna during the Visarjan process.
Further, the colours that people apply to each other during Visarjan are seldom organic, contributing further to the pollution of river ecosystems. To counter this issue, he recommended that, starting next year, individuals should consider making Ganesh idols from cow dung instead of purchasing those that contain toxic elements. For those who have already acquired Ganesh idols this year, it is advisable to conduct the Visarjan in open containers at home instead of in water bodies, which will help protect our river ecosystems, he said.
The founding president of the Rajpur Community Initiative, Reenu Paul emphasised that individuals who perform Ganesh Visarjan in water bodies are directly contributing to water pollution. She said that Ganesh idols contain plaster and toxic paints that accumulate in water bodies, severely impacting aquatic life. Paul suggested raising awareness among the community about the importance of environmental conservation.
She cited Maharashtra as an example, where designated places for Ganesh Visarjan have been established this year to minimise pollution in water bodies. Similar steps should be taken in Uttarakhand, she said. First and foremost, individuals need to understand the significance of the environment and perform Visarjan in containers, buckets or similar receptacles at home. Additionally, municipal authorities should implement guidelines for Ganesh Visarjan, outlining appropriate locations and methods to minimise environmental impact, she added.
