New Delhi, Sept. 22 -- The Delhi government has set up 110 special collection centres for the dignified disposal of old and damaged idols and religious material, while preparations have been completed for artificial immersion ponds at 81 locations across the city ahead of Ganesh immersion.
The initiative, led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, aims to facilitate religious practices while preventing the disposal of idols and puja material in public spaces and water bodies.
The government said the collection centres, including designated locations such as temples, will provide devotees with an organised alternative to leaving damaged idols and religious material under trees, in parks or along roadsides.
At the same time, artificial immersion ponds have been prepared across Delhi to provide devotees with designated sites for Ganesh idol immersion. Arrangements for security, sanitation, lighting, medical assistance, emergency response, traffic management and environmental protection are being coordinated across all 13 revenue districts.
The government has also made arrangements for the removal of idol remains and other material after immersion and cleaning of the sites. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta appealed to devotees to use the designated artificial immersion sites instead of immersing idols in the Yamuna or other water bodies. She also urged people to opt for eco-friendly idols and avoid Plaster of Paris (PoP), harmful chemical colours and decorative materials that can damage water bodies.
The Chief Minister said, "The government's priority is to ensure that religious faith and environmental protection complement each other." She appealed to residents to deposit damaged idols and religious material only in designated collection containers and use the artificial immersion sites for Ganesh idols.
The government said the initiative seeks to create a balance between religious traditions, cleanliness and environmental protection, while ensuring that devotees have clean and organised facilities to observe their traditions.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.