Idol immersion only at designated places

With Diwali and Chhath Puja round the corner, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday finally clarified that idol immersion in the Yamuna will be allowed only at designated places.

The Tribunal said its earlier order banning immersion in the Yamuna had been misconstrued and that it had only banned random immersion and use of non-biodegradable materials for the idols.

“We never said there is complete prohibition on idol immersion in the Yamuna. What we had said is that idol immersion should be done from designated places so that the river doesn't get polluted,” a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Swatanter Kumar said.

The Tribunal clarified its stand while hearing a plea filed by one Ojaswi Party, which had contended that the Tribunal’s ban had hurt religious sentiments of people.

The bench asked the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the Delhi Government, Central Pollution Control Board and civic bodies to constitute a committee to designate more spaces for idol immersion.

Advocate Balendu Shekhar, appearing for East Delhi Municipal Corporation, after submitting that civic bodies are complying with the orders of the Tribunal, submitted that nine enclosures have been made for idol immersion along the 24-km stretch of River Yamuna.

The Tribunal said its earlier order had been misconstrued as a ban on idol immersion in the Yamuna, when in fact, it only banned random points of immersion