SHILLONG: Raising a concern over idol immersion, the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) youth wing called upon the state government to take necessary steps immediately and issue guidelines in consultation with the State Pollution Board.
In a statement issued here, the president of KHNAM YW, Thomas Passah said he had earlier written to the Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to set rules and policy towards eco-friendly idol and idol immersion in order to safeguard water bodies.
“However, it is yet to be known whether the Government has taken any appropriate steps towards the same,” he said.
The KHNAM Youth Wing has written to the Central Puja Committee (CPC) to come up with a large scale eco-friendly idol immersion process after the puja concludes later this month.
“There is a need to ensure that all the puja pandals in the state takes the green pledge in the individual capacity. Suggestion for preparation of makeshift pond for mass immersion has also been made to the CPC,” he said.
Passah said the Central Pollution Board pointed out the effect of floating materials released from idols in the river after decomposition which results in eutrophication, increase in acidity and heavy metal concentration, the heavy metal pollution caused by idol immersion further damages the ecosystem.
