SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Oct 2: Immersion of idols and worship material in the urban area-based ponds, tanks and rivers has been banned in Dhanbad this Durga Puja.
The district administration in this regard on Sunday (October 2) late evening issued the notification banning the immersion of idols and disposal of worship materials in the city-based water bodies.
Earlier on Sunday, DMC Town Commissioner Satyendra Kumar announced a ban on immersion in urban area-based ponds and rivers.
“If any Puja Committee is found violating the order by immersing idols and disposing of worship material of Durga puja in city-based ponds, lakes and other water bodies, legal action would be initiated against the members of organizing committee,” said the notice.
In coal city, around 80 Puja Committees celebrate Durga Puja by installing idols in Pandal and later immerse them in city-based Rajendra Sarovar, Bekar Bandh, Pumpu Tank, Rani Talab, Dhaiyya, Khokhan Talab and others.
This is the first time when the district administration as well as the civic body has imposed a ban on the immersion of idols in ponds and rivers of the district. Earlier in 2012, Pollution Control Board Dhanbad had set conditions for Puja Committees to bring out idols and worship material from water bodies within 24 hours of immersion.
Dhanbad Deputy commissioner (DC) Sandip Singh said that an order has been issued on the directive of the National Green Tribunal (NGT). “However, any Puja committee of the city should not worry as the district administration has identified some water bodies in the city where idols would be immersed under the supervision of officials,” said the DC.
The administration would soon release the list of ponds and water bodies where idols would be immersed.
While imposing the ban, DMC Town Commissioner Satyendra Kumar said that as per Section-5 of the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Protection Act 1986, immersion of idols and disposal of worship material in water bodies are completely banned. “So in the wake of Act, DMC has requested to stop the immersion,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Puja Committees have strongly protested the order of the DMC and district administration. They charged that issuing notice about the ban just 72 hours before the immersion is nothing but a way to harass the organizers.
“Without making alternative arrangements for immersion, the district administration and municipal corporation have created new problems for us. The act is not new. It administration was serious this time to implement it, they should have been announced at the time of the meeting,” said a Puja committee member.
