PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Oct 19: The lifeline rivers are safe post immersions.
A survey conducted by Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board’s (JSPCB) Adityapur-based regional office on river health before and after Durga Puja immersion revealed slight changes in two twin lifeline rivers – Subarnarekha and Kharkai.
The survey report reflected before-and-after changes in dissolved oxygen (DO) level, biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), pH scale, total dissolved solids (TDS) and turbidity.
The findings revealed low depletion of dissolved oxygen (DO) after immersions owing to toxins and chemical dyes. Tests showed water at both rivers had over 5.2 mg/litre of DO two days before immersion, and 4.6 mg /litre post immersion.
The pollution control board had identified six spots in Subarnarekha and Kharkai from where water samples were collected before and after immersions. The immersion of idols took place on October 15.
However, tests concentrated at two places, Subarnarekha ghat at Sakchi near Jai Prakash Narayan Setu and Kharkai ghat under Adityapur bridge.
Subarnarekha ghat saw around 100 immersions. The count of immersion has decreased due to the pandemic.
The Kharkai ghat saw less than 50 immersions. Last year, a similar survey had found 6.5mg/litre of DO before immersion and 5mg/litre afterwards. The BOD at Kharkai ghat increased from 5 mg/litre to 6 mg/litre and COD from 14mg/litre to 20mg/litre.
At Subarnarekha ghat, both BOD and COD levels witnessed a slight rise post-immersion. Water samples of both rivers reflected slight alkalinity and a small increase in turbidity after immersions.
A JSPCB official who was part of the survey team said, “ Because of the pandemic and the government guidelines, the size of idols was reduced to 5 ft. The immersion count in bigger ghats had reduced for the last two years. Moreover, artisans who made idols also avoided toxic paints, which increase various parameters beyond prescribed limits and thus causing water pollution.”
The survey was conducted following the directives of the National Green Tribunal.
