Take Green Pledge: KHNAM Appeals to Puja Committees

A REPORTER

SHILLONG: The KHNAM State Youth Wing has written to the Central Puja Committee today, expressing concerned over the continuous pollution of water bodies due to usage of material like Plaster of Paris, clothes, plastics, small iron rods, bamboo and paints like varnish, water colours which lead to significant alteration in the water quality after immersion.

The Central Pollution Board has already pointed out the effects of these floating materials released through the immersed idols in the river after decomposition which results in eutrophication, and increase in acidity and heavy metal concentration. Besides the heavy metal pollution caused by idol immersion further damages the ecosystem.

The KHNAM State Youth Wing earlier this year has put up a request to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to frame rules and policy towards eco-friendly idol and idol immersion in order to safeguard the water bodies However, the Government is yet to initiate appropriate steps towards this direction.

“It is everyone’s concern and responsibility to safeguard our rivers and water bodies. Therefore, we have urged the Central Puja Committee to come up with a largescale eco-friendly idol immersion process after the puja concludes later this month,” Thomas Passah president of KHNAM SYW said.

He said the usage of eco-friendly materials as notified by the Central Pollution Control Board needs to be adhered to.

“There is a need to ensure that all the puja pandals in the State take the green pledge in their individual capacities. Suggestion for preparation of makeshift ponds for mass immersion has also been made to the CPC, hence there is an urgent need for the government to immediately take necessary steps and issue necessary guidelines to all concerned with consultation with the State Pollution Board (SPB),” he added.