Days ahead of the Ganesha festival, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) have urged citizens to ensure that the festivities do not hamper the environment in any way.
In a communiqué on Tuesday, the BBMP urged citizens not to put up any posters, banners or buntings made from polythene, plastic or any synthetic material. They have also been urged not to dump waste and puja material indiscriminately, apart from asking people to opt for eco-friendly idols made of clay, in which lead-based paints are not used.
Special arrangements have been made for immersion of idols. The release reiterated that idols may be immersed only in special tanks available at the notified lakes to prevent pollution of water bodies.
Only idols may be immersed. Puja material such as flowers, garlands, banana stems and mango leaves have to be dumped in special bins placed at the entrance of all the immersion tanks. Green waste will be sent to the Karnataka Compost Development Corporation.
The BBMP has made arrangements for 106 mobile immersion tanks and the KSPCB 200.
These tanks will go around the city. Citizens can immerse small sized idols in these tanks, the communiqué said and added that immersion will not be allowed after 10.30 p.m.
Earthmovers will be deployed to clear the remains of idol from the lakes on the same day. These will be dumped in select quarry pits, the communiqué added.
The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) has warned against illegal tapping of power during the upcoming Ganesha festival, which begins on August 29 and extends up to a month.
A release sent on Tuesday said, “Bescom will not be responsible for any untoward incident owing to unauthorised power connections.”
Under the Indian Electricity Act 2003, anyone caught stealing electricity can be imprisoned for up to three years or fined, or both. Bescom is providing temporary connections for the festival. Organisers have been asked to contact the nearest sub-division office for the same.
The power utility has asked citizens to inform about unauthorised connections by calling on 1912.