The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has said only Vinayaka idols made of natural, biodegradable, eco-friendly material such as traditional virtuous clay and mud should be immersed in waterbodies.
In its guidelines issued ahead of the Vinayaka Chathurthi festival on September 18, the TNPCB has discouraged immersion of idols made of Plaster of Paris (PoP), plastic, and thermocol (polystyrene).
R. Kannan, Member-Secretary, TNPCB, said in a release that idols made of single-use plastics and thermocol material are strictly prohibited and only eco-friendly material such as as straw structure should be used in making idols or decoration of idols, pandals, tazias in order to prevent pollution in waterbodies.
