India, Sept. 16 -- The Tamil Nadu Fishermen Trade Union Federation has submitted a representation to the Chennai district collector, raising severe concerns over potential ecological damage and livelihood loss caused by the mass immersion of Vinayagar idols along the Kasimedu and Ennore coasts.

The federation, in its memorandum, highlighted that a recent National Green Tribunal (southern zone) ban on idol immersions at Pattinapakkam and Neelankarai beaches -- aimed at protecting turtle nesting sites and coastal ecosystems -- threatens to redirect thousands of idols directly to beaches in north Chennai.

Expressing anxiety over turning Kasimedu and Ennore into a dumping ground, the federation pointed out that thousands of idols coated in ...