Following the directives of Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) which instructs the municipal authorities to ensure idol immersion in artificial pools dug up at an identified spots or else to rim the areas inside ponds, the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has started brainstorming on different measures for carrying out immersion process in accordance to the norms while preserving the eco-system by encouraging people to create artificial reservoirs for immersion.

As per the guidelines of the State Pollution Control Board, materials like flowers, clothes and other stuffs used during the puja rituals must be removed out within 48 hours of immersion from the immersion sites (Ponds) for conserving the water from being contaminated. In an attempt to adhere to the guidelines,

Deputy Mayor Sanjiv Vijayawargia conducted meeting with the members of puja committees recently.

“Immersion will be done only at a few selected ponds enlisted with the Municipal Corporation. After receiving the lists from the members of different organising committees, a consolidated list of water reservoirs where immersion procedure will be carried out will be released,” said the Deputy Mayor.

Notably, the Municipal Corporation following the guidelines of the nodal agency had made mandatory for all the puja committees to submit a list of water reservoirs where immersion will be carried out.

Also, introducing the concept of artificial ponds to avoid rush at the water reservoirs besides promoting the eco-friendly approach in dismantling and immersing deities, an unanimous decision was taken a year ago by the puja samiti members for creation of artificial ponds at their respective localities.

However, the idea of creating artificial ponds near water reservoirs or any other identified spot within the municipal periphery seems to be merely restricted to papers only.

“All puja samiti members have been instructed to make alternative arrangements and to carry out immersion at particular water bodies only. Also, creation of small artificial pools for immersion has been suggested to the people concerned. A few water bodies will be rimmed up for this specific purpose,” added Vijayawargia.

The Municipal Corporation divides the Capital City into different zones considering the Durga Puja rush for better crowd management near the water bodies. Immersion procedure is mainly carried out at Ranchi lake, Line Tank, Jail Talaab, Karamtoli Talab, to name a few.