EnvironmentalImpact of

Gunwant JoshiChief Chemist

M.P.Pollution Control Board

All over the country Ganesh idols are invoked on Shukla Chaturthi with all theFerver and Gaity

Come Bhadrapad & its time for festival of Lord Ganesh

This year Ganesh Chaturthiis coming on 19th September

The practice was prevalent mostly in high cast Hindus

Traditionally, from ancient times,Shri Ganesh idols were made from mud & clays, and often painted with vegetable dyesand then were installedwith great religious fervor on the Day of Bhadrapad Shukla Chaturthi

In 1893, He installed idol of “Lord Ganesh, deity of Wisdom to symbolise the peoples aspirations for Socio-cultural and Political

change in the society & also to bridge the gap between ‘Brahmins’ and 'non-Brahmins‘ so that the Freedom movement gets momentum

The Fiery freedom fighter, a great Indian Scholar & social reformertransformed this purely religiousannual festival into a well-organizedSocio-Political Public event to provide a plate-form to unite & motivate the youth and the masses to come together against the British Government and demand the Right to self Rule

the epitome of Wisdom, Creativity, Harmony & Positive societal change.

Provides opportunity to the people for the artistic expression manifested in different forms

Ganesh Festival is

Over the years this has undergone tremendous change due to people’s attitude to see it in different perspective

The result is

That is manifested in several artistic ways Unfortunately this is now taking the dangerous dimensions

What thoughts come your mind when u hear about the Festivity of The Ganesh Chaturthi?

Is it about…•Sweet & Tasty

….Ok

…What else ?

•Shiny glossy colorful mesmerising idols of Ganeshji and ….. explosion of creativity in preparing the idols and pandal decorations… . Aartee…Poojas, Bhajans, and… Loud music, unattended garbage ….and..

May be…..

You may even think of The impending Environmental damage ?????

That is going to take place in form of Visarjan activityOn Anant Chaturdashi

When the LordShall leave!

The idols are often made from non- biodegradable materials such as Plastic, Cement, Plaster of Paris and often painted with toxic dyes.

Plaster of Paris comprises of chemicals like gypsum, sulphur, phosphorus & magnesium and is insoluble in water.

Paints contain heavy metals like Chromium, cadmium, lead and Mercury etc. which are toxic to the life forms

The Idols of the Lord & PoP

Community Ganesh PendalsHow it is

Excessive electric lighting and decoration using thermocol and other non-biodegradable material

Noisy recordings-empty pendals Long aartis in loud tone causing Noise Pollution.

What it should be

The idol of Shree Ganesh is most important in elegant background and beautiful ambianceEverybody should collectively join for pooja with devotion.

Selective devotionful aarti with Prayer and Chantings

What it should be

Preparation of pooja after purification to maintain the sanctity.

Everyone should remain present and experience the divine consciousness.

How it is

Most People absent at the time of pooja and those present often chit chat.

Anti-social elements often take over and indulge in unwanted activities

Community Ganesh Pendals

How it is

Slow paced unruly procession, antisocial elements sneak in.

What it should be

Disciplined procession with religious chanting

Visarjan Procession

Visarjan [Idol Immersion]

The after math of Visarjan

Hard to believe

After immersion We go home and sleep...?..!!

Never ever actually look back what have we left behind after the visarjan?

The Idols we worshiped and revered lie here Crest fallen,

Don’t they deserve

Chemical Pollutants

Mean Concentration In Water

Concentration before Immersion of Idols

Concentration after Immersion of Idols

Calcium 25.14 43.77 68.4*

Magnesium 7.785 6.590 10.02*

Molybdenum 0.090 0.149 0.534*

Silicon 3.537 2.954 3.826**

Arsenic 0.124 0.121 0.497

Iron 0.212 0.125 0.22**

Lead 0.289 0.351 0.45**

Mercury 0.689 0.553 0.778**

Threshold Limit Value (TLV) : *TLV=0.01; **TLV=0.05

TLV is the permissible level of a toxic pollutant to which a healthy person is exposed during an eight hour day without any adverse effect.

S. No. Material Contributed Impact on the Aquatic Body

1 Plaster of Paris Increases dissolved solids, contribute metals and sludge.

2. Decoration material viz. clothes, polish, paint, ornaments, cosmetic items.

Contributes Suspended Particulate Matters (SPM), trace metals (Zinc, Lead, Iron, Chromium, Arsenic, Mercury, etc.), metalloids and various organic and inorganic matter, oil and grease, etc.

3. Flowers, garlands, oily substances

Increase floating suspended matter, organic contamination, oil and grease and various organic and inorganic matter.

4. Bamboo sticks, beauty articles

Pieces float in water or settle at the river bottom inhabiting river flow.

5. Polythene bags / plastic items

Contribute suspended matter, settled matter and hazardous material to water and choke the aquatic life.

6. Eatables,food items, etc. Contribute oil and grease, organics to water bodies.

Is it not a right time to give a thought to

For Children, They are a Fun to make

Easy Visarjan !

Little or No Environmental implications!!

Our Schools may consider this

CENTRAL POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD, DELHI

The document is available at http://www.cpcb.nic.in/

GUIDELINES FOR IDOL IMMERSION

Guidelines for local bodies /

authorities

Identification of the Immersion Ghats

Co-ordination Committee

Burning of solid wastes

Disposal Within 48 hours of the immersion

Mass awareness

Guidelines for Idol Immersion in LakesFlowers, leaves and artificial ornaments of idols should be removed prior to immersion

Artificial pond using removable synthetic liners in the bottom should be created for immersion activity

Post immersion, liners may be taken out along with remains of idols and lime should be added to the pond water for settling the solids.

De-sludging of the pond should be undertaken afterwards.

Guidelines for Idol Immersion in Rivers Temporary ponds having earthen bunds along river bank should be created as idol immersion spots.

Flowers, leaves and artificial ornaments of idols should be removed prior to immersion

Removable synthetic liner may be placed well in advance in bottom of pond.

The said liner along with remains of idols should be removed from the point within 48 hours of immersion of idols.

Recommendations

Recommendations:

Install Eco Idols [dissolve in water in >10 hrs]

Use permanent idols made of brass or stone.

Use a small painted idol made of unbaked clay if you immerse the idol

Immerse the idol in a tub or a water tank

Collect the flowers and Nirmalya and compost them

Avoid the use of thermocole & plastic in decorations

Within 24 hours of the immersion of idols, the left over material (near rivers, lakes, beaches, etc.) should be collected by the local bodies and disposed off. At the immersion sites, burning of solid wastes should not be allowed.

People should be encouraged to go for smaller size idols.

Through media people should be educated about the ill effects of such activities on holy water bodies & encouraged to go for "kar-sewa" in order to minimize, the adverse effects.

Good way to immerse small idols

Disposal

The Mud or the Clay may be used in the Gardens or the PotsWithout any bad effect to the Environment

Good way to immerse

Other Resource

GUIDELINES FOR IDOL IMMERSION Published by CPCB in June’2010

Wonderful slide show on Ganesh Festival and related issueshttp://parisaraganapati.net/

The document is available at http://www.cpcb.nic.in/

How to make Eco Idols/Green Ganeshhttp://parisaraganapati.net/

http://www.savetubevideo.com/?v=Q1ZH0tkh2TQ