Tirupur: Farmers here have come out against the district administration for allowing immersion of Ganesha idols in lower Bhavani project (LBP) irrigation canals,
saying it will lead to pollution.
“The administration had allowed the immersion of Vinayaga idols in LBP main canal in Thittuparai near Chennimalai two years ago when there was water. It resulted in pollution. But the authorities did not bother about it,” president of the LBP Farmers’ Welfare Association S Nallusamy said.
“Though the government had issued guidelines on making eco-friendly idols, they were not followed. The idols would have chemicals and many of them would be made of Plaster of Paris. There is a high possibility of the district administration choosing LBP main canal for the immersion since it had done it before. Since the water is not only used for irrigation, but also for drinking, pollution will affect people directly. Besides, it will cause obstruction in the canal. Erode district administration is not allowing the immersion in LBP canal. The Tirupur district administration should also follow it,” he told TOI.
A senior revenue official said that as irrigation canals like Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP) irrigation scheme do not have water, Thittuparai may be chosen for idol immersion this year also. “Moreover, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board has ensured that non-biodegradable idols were not made. Hence, the immersion would not cause pollution,” he said.
The administration will decided on the immersion points in a meeting conducted with revenue officials and police, he added.
More than 10,000 hectares of agricultural lands depend on LBP project.
