It was indeed an “eco-friendly” Ganesh festival this year if the figures with the Karnataka Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) are anything to go by.
Sixty per cent of the idols immersed last week in KSPCB’s mobile tanks were non-painted clay ones. In several parts of the city, pure clay idols far exceeded the painted variety.
Of the 4,967 idols immersed in these tanks, 3,025 were not painted, saving the environment from chemicals, notably lead. West Bangalore led the eco-friendly way with 1,135 non-painted idols and just 400 painted ones. In south Bangalore, 750 pure clay and 100 painted clay idols were immersed, while in Yelahanka in north Bangalore, 204 clay and 163 painted idols were immersed.
Mobile tanks that were arranged for several residential areas accounted for around 30 per cent of the idols immersed.
The remaining idols were immersed either in designated kalyanis or at homes, said an official at the KSPCB.
The Board will also conduct water quality tests of the 20-odd lakes where idols were immersed. Last year, post Ganesh Chaturti, water quality tests revealed that dissolved oxygen decreased by around 25 per cent in Sankey, Lalbagh, Yediyur and Shivapura lakes indicating the increased presence of organic pollution.
Clay idols appear to be catching on in Mysore too with 1,040 non-painted and 1,288 painted idols being immersed this year, according to KSPCB.
