In a first, this festive season could see Delhiites getting fined Rs.5,000 for polluting the Yamuna if they immerse idols in stretches of the river not designated for the activity or use non-eco friendly materials.
Officials will be stationed at seven ghats on Friday when Durga Puja festivities conclude with idols of the goddess being immersed in the Yamuna.
Ashwani Kumar, the Secretary of the Environment and Forest Department, said on Wednesday that a series of meetings with the puja organising committees in the city had been held in the run-up. Most of the committees were already using eco-friendly idols, which don’t have toxic paints. But, what kind of materials individuals or families immerse remains in question.
“We have requested the Divisional Commissioner to ensure that officials from the local district administration are stationed at the ghats to ensure that people don’t pollute, and to fine them if they do,” said Mr. Kumar.
As per orders of the National Green Tribunal in January, the Delhi Government’s Irrigation and Flood Control Department has created special ghats along the riverbank where people can immerse idols and give other religious offerings.
The designated areas are cordoned off with a net or screen, so the religious offerings don’t enter the river’s mainstream. After the idols are immersed, the Irrigation department will remove them and the local municipal corporation will dispose off the debris. South Delhi, which has the popular Kalindi Kunj ghat, the municipal corporation will be carrying out a cleanliness drive before devotees flock for immersion.
“We have been carrying out a sanitation drive since the beginning of Navratri at the puja grounds. On the day of and the day after idol immersion, we will work with the Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) to ensure cleanliness,” said South Delhi Municipal Corporation spokesperson Mukesh Yadav.
The District Magistrate and Deputy Commissioner of South-East Delhi, B.S. Jaglan, said 100 people from the local administration will be deployed at the ghat. “We have held meetings with the puja committees and the police to ensure things go off smoothly,” said Mr. Jaglan.
In some of the ghats, volunteers of Civil Defence will help the police in crowd management. Meanwhile, the Traffic Police issued an advisory on Wednesday to avoid the roads that will be affected by processions going towards Kudesiya Ghat/Geeta Ghat, Shyam Ghat, Chhat Pooja Ghat, Kalindi Kunj, Chilla Ghat and Geeta Colony Ghat.
Though some people will be immersing idols on Thursday, there is expected to be more rush on Friday. From 1 p.m to 5 p.m., the police said traffic will be hit on Mandir Marg, Panchkuian Road, Connaught Place Outer Circle, Minto Road, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg and Jawaharlal Nehru Marg in Central Delhi. In South Delhi, traffic will be affected in Chittaranjan Park, Outer Ring Road from Chirag Delhi Flyover upto Mathura Road, Maa Anand Mai Marg, Josip Broz Tito Marg and Nehru Place.
Officials will be stationed at seven ghats on Friday when Durga Puja festivities conclude with idols being immersed in Yamuna
