The Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the district authorities to notify places for immersion of Vinayaka idols in each locality across the State to avoid pollution of waterbodies.
A petition, filed by Samalapuram Pallapalayam Perikulam Pasana Vivasayigal Sangam from Tiruppur, alleged that idols made of Plaster of Paris were being sold and immersion of these idols in lakes would severely pollute the waterbodies.
Noting that it would be an arduous task for the local administration to clean the waterbodies [after the immersion], the petitioner sought a direction for prohibiting immersion of idols in the Samalapuram lake during Vinayaka Chaturthi or any other festival.
