Allow immersion of idols at designated waterbodies: Greens

Dharwad: With the government permitting public celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi and installation of Ganesh idols by organisations at public places, environmentalists have urged the administration to allow idol immersion at designated waterbodies in the city.
Three years ago, Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation, in collaboration with the district administration and Pollution Control Board, had made arrangements for a hassle-free immersion of large-sized Ganesh idols at Nucchambali Bhavi in Hosayallapur area of Dharwad at a cost of Rs 3 crore. It has a ramp and a separate road for the exit of vehicles carrying the idols. The job of cleaning the water body after the immersion was also entrusted to a contractor.
Meanwhile, when the administration came out with the ban on installation of Ganesh idols in public places, some elected representatives suggested that small ponds be constructed in open space/ parks at different localities for the immersion of idols.
Nature Research Centre (NRC), a voluntary organisation, has taken exception to the digging of ponds in public parks. NRC coordinator Harsha Sheelavant said some years ago, two children lost their lives after falling into the pond at a park in Gandhi Nagar. Instead, people should be allowed to use either Nucchambali Bhavi or mobile facilities for idol immersion, he said.
“The district administration has failed in enforcing the ban on using idols made of Plaster of Paris (PoP). To cover up its lapse, it wants the idols to get buried in the makeshift ponds,” Harsha alleged.