Pollution Control Board plea for clay Ganesh idols

Chennai, Aug 18: With the Vinayaka Chathurthi Celebrations round the corner, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) on Monday, Aug 18 appealed to the people to use for worship Ganesha idols made of raw clay as they would not impact the environment when immersed in water bodies.

TNPCB Chairman R Balakrishnan said here clay idols could be safely immersed in water bodies without causing any water pollution.

Though immersion of idols made of clay in water bodies had been practiced every year, of late those made of plaster of Paris and painted idols were being immersed leading to water pollution.

Urging the people to avoid immersion of idols with chemical paints in water bodies, he appealed to worshippers not to immerse them in sea shores and lakes.

''Instead, the idols should be taken at least 500 metre into the sea and immersed in the places notified by the government,'' he added.

UNI