Thos year's Durga immersion is pollution-free in Jaintia Hills: DC

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Oct 12:  The West Jaintia Hills district administration claimed that this year’s immersion of goddess Durga was pollution-free.

Discontinuing its earlier practice of immersing the idols into the Myntdu river in Jowai, this year, the district administration instead fabricated a special 8*8*4 feet iron sheet container.

The cost of this iron sheet container was borne under Chief Minister’s Youth for Green Campaign.

“Our fire brigade people filled it with water. After the ceremonial touching of the river water, idols were brought back to the bank and were immersed in the tank,” West Jaintia Hills, Deputy Commissioner (DC), Arun Kumar Kembhavi said.  

Kumar informed that the tank has a three inch valve at the bottom.

The DC also informed that after the idols melt the water will be released into a 3*3*4 feet soak pit.

“All the water will be drained to the pit and solid waste will be dumped in the municipal dump yard. Hence zero pollution to the river from which Jowai and many villages get drinking water without compromising on the religious sentiments of the people,” Kembhavi said.

He also informed that some youths in the melee floated an idol in the river but it was caught in the downstream and brought back.

The DC said that none of the Puja materials including flowers, ba leaves were thrown in the water even as he said that devotees also cleaned the river bank after the ceremony.

Kembhavi has thanked the fire brigade personnel, police, and Jowai Municipal Board for all the arrangements and also to all members of Sarbajan Puja Committee of Jowai.