Mumbai :As per the science, Lord Ganesh idols should be immersed in flowing water.But CEBF, which is unconcerned about the causes of water pollution through out the year, becomes very active only at the time of immersion of Ganesh idols and making a hue and cry about water getting polluted only due to immersion of idols, makes appeal to people to donate Lord Ganesh idols instead of immersion. The idols collected in this manner are dumped into pools of dirty ater which is a blatant desecration of the idols. Complaints have been lodged with district collectors and police officials of Pune, Satara,Sangali, Kolhapur, Solapur etc. against such misdeeds by CEBF. Due to the ‘Donation of Ganesh idol’ campaign of CEBF, feelings of Ganesh-devotees are hurt. Shri Ramesh Shinde, the spokesperson of HJS, Maharashtra State has appealed to people to carry out immersion of Ganesh idols only in water, as per the science.
Shri. Shinde has further stated that CEBF is unnecessarily making a hue and cry about water pollution due to immersion of idols, however, there has been no proof or no survey undertaken in this context. In fact, the findings of ‘Srushti Eco Research Institute’, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and Oasis Environmental Consultants, from Pune show that the water does not get polluted due to immersion of idols. It is their opinion that as Plaster of Paris is made from calcium sulphate, there is no danger of water getting polluted.
Further, compared to the very harmful chemical effluents that are daily mixed in water, the chemicals used in colours for painting idols are negligible. Instead of the horrible practice of donation of idols, awareness should be created among people about the science which never favours destruction of environment. If Ganesh-devotees bring an idol made of clay painted with natural colours, there would be no chance of pollution, moreover, the frequencies of Ganesh principle would spread through water and everyone will get itsbenefit. In this connection, Maharashtra Government too should follow the example of Goa and impose a ban on idols made of plaster of Paris. Besides, it is a cognizable offence under section 295 of the IPC to hurt feelings of people by causing desecration of idols. Therefore, immediately lodge a complaint against the concerned persons with the police if such incidents are noticed.
