look news india
As the holy festival of ‘Durga Puja’, one of the biggest and sacred festivals celebrated with faith, enthusiasm and gaiety across India, is coming closer, administrative preparations are going on in full swing in different states of the country. In this context, Jharkhand State Government and Pollution Control Board have implemented some very strict and new rules to make this year’s festival completely environment-friendly and safe. Celebrated every year with grand pandals and attractive idols, this festival has been raising concerns for some time about the damage it is causing to water sources and the environment. Keeping this in mind, this time the administration has decided to take strict steps to strike a balance between traditional faith and conservation of nature, so that this great festival of faith does not cause any harm to the environment.
Under the new and strict guidelines issued by the Jharkhand administration, this time the manufacturing, sale and use of idols of Durga and other Gods and Goddesses made of Plaster of Paris (POP) and Thermocool has been completely banned in the state. It is a clear order of the district administration that all the idols installed in the pandals should be made only from naturally pure eco-friendly clay, natural colors and materials that do not harm the environment. When the idols made of plaster of Paris and synthetic colors are immersed in water sources after puja, they leach into the water and make the water poisonous in huge quantities, which has a very bad effect on the health of aquatic creatures and humans. The main objective of this step of the government is to keep the rivers, ponds and water sources of the state pollution free and to save the environment.
This time the administration has set very strict and disciplined rules regarding the entire process from the making of the idols to their immersion. Clear instructions have been given to puja committees and organizers that they will not be able to directly immerse the idols in traditional water sources, holy rivers or main parts of large ponds. As an alternative to this, the district administration is constructing artificial immersion ponds on the banks of the reservoirs, so that the natural flow of water and the ecosystem can be protected. There will be a complete ban on hubbub, excessive noise and use of banned plastic or thermocouples during immersion. Police and local administration teams will keep a close watch on every puja pandal and immersion site, and if any committee is found violating the rules, strictest punitive action will be taken against them under the law.
In this joyous atmosphere of festivals, mixed reactions are coming from all the puja committees and common citizens across the state regarding these new and strict rules of the administration. However, most of the conscious committees and environment lovers have wholeheartedly welcomed this decision of the government and said that it is the moral responsibility of all of us to protect the environment. The administration is continuously appealing to the people through social media, advertisements and public awareness campaigns to celebrate this Durga Puja completely as ‘Green Durga Puja’. Use eco-friendly idols, avoid use of plastic in pandals and cooperate fully with the administration by following the rules. Only when faith and environmental protection move forward together, real and sustainable development of both society and nature becomes possible.