Civic bodies all set for 'green Ganeshotsav'

Civic bodies all set for 'green Ganeshotsav'
By Gayathri L, DH News Service, Bangalore:
Ganesha Chaturthi is round the corner and the civic bodies are gearing up to ensure a Green Ganeshotsav -- while the public celebrate "Ganesha banda kai kadabu tinda," with Ganesha idols, modaks and festive pandals.


Traditionally, the practice of immersing the Ganesha sculpted out of earth by immersing it in a water body represented the cycle of creation and dissolution in nature. Immersing idols made of plaster of Paris and coloured with lead paint, in water bodies have an adverse impact on the eco-system. Clay too adds to the already present silt load hindering percolation and affecting groundwater levels.

While some civic bodies are promoting use of organic Ganesha idols made of clay and painted with only vegetable dyes, arrangements for immersion of idols have been made by BBMP and others. Mobile immersion tanks, which will make stops at various localities, have also been organised.

In a run-up to the festival, many departments have taken up awareness campaigns. The Lake Development Authority (LDA) has tied up with the Education Department and BMTC to spread awareness in educational institutions, bus stops and bus stands respectively along with public awareness messages through the media.

The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has tied up with an NGO, Children’s Movement for Civic Awareness to inform children of 50 schools about the environmental impact of plaster of paris and lead paint to natural water bodies.

The BBMP has identified lakes and tanks which should be used for immersion. They are - Ulsoor Lake, Yadiyur Tank and Sankey Tank, where a separate immersion area has been made. BBMP has also identified tanks in Bommanahalli Zone, Rajarajeshwari Nagar Zone, Mahadevapura Zone, Dasarahalli Zone and Bytarayanapura Zone where idols can be immersed. It has also organised for collection of disposable pooja material at the immersion sites and arranged for swimmers and pourakarmikas to be available for assistance.

BBMP and KSPCB have arranged mobile immersion tanks which will ply through various localities. BDA will have mobile immersion tanks at Lalbagh lake where idols not more than two feet can be immersed.

“We have requested the BBMP to increase the number of mobile immersion tanks this year and will request the authorities concerned to clean the tanks as quickly as possible after the immersion,” said an officer, LDA.