Idol immersions in ponds keep Yamuna water clean

NEW DELHI: Water quality in the Yamuna has “improved” this year, as for the first time idol immersion during Ganesh Chaturthi festival was conducted in artificial ponds instead of the river, a study by Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) as revealed.

The practice of immersing idols in artificial ponds was also followed during Durga puja, which concluded on October 8. However, the report on the water quality is awaited.

As the number of Ganesh idols immersed in the Yamuna was negligible this year, the value of heavy metals and other pollutant in the river — such as total suspended solids (TSS), bio-chemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD), among others, have “reduced significantly” in comparison to that of 2018, the report said.

“This year the water quality in the Yamuna has remained almost the same pre and post-immersion, as idols were not immersed in the river. Last year, post-immersion there was a steep rise in the level of pollution in the river. Also, the river is somewhat cleaner this year because of an extended monsoon,” said a senior DPCC official.

“Heavy metals, such as lead and mercury, which is mainly found in chemical paints used for decoration of idols damage water bodies. Their levels have come down this year, compared to last year. We expect a similar kind of result for Durga idol immersion as well,” the official said.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had in 2015 directed that idols must not be immersed in the river and an alternative to the practice be thought of. The alternative measure of conducting immersion in artificial ponds had been suggested by the Ngt-appointed Yamuna committee.

Manoj Misra, convener, Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, said, “This is a welcome step. However, there is a long way to go in terms of the overall health of the river, which is not good and there is a flow of sewage and chemical effluents that has to be contained.”