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Sep 22 2015 : The Times of India (Mumbai)`No such thing as eco-friendly
immersion'Anahita MukherjiMumbai:Experts Caution People To Look At The Larger
Picture
While eco-friendly Ganeshas are in vogue this season, it's well worth
remembering that, if immersed in the sea, or worse still, in rivers or lakes,
their impact on the environment can be disastrous. While Ganeshas made of
organic matter are replacing plaster of Paris idols, scientists say huge
quantities of organic matter released into the sea are toxic.
“Even if you make Ganpatis out of flowers and rice, fish will die with such
large quantities released into the sea.Immersions in ponds and lakes are even
more dangerous, as the dilution levels are very low. The large quantities of
water in the sea, as well as tidal fluctuations, help restore the water to
normal. However, this does not occur in lakes and ponds, where the material
from the immersed Ganpatis will remain the year round,“ says Rakesh Kumar,
chief scientist and head of the National Environmental Engineering Research
Institute in Mumbai.
He feels people are currently looking only at incremental improvements in
pollution levels around the festival, such as replacing plaster of Paris with
organic matter.“But we need to look at the bigger picture,“ he says.
Environmentalist Sumaira Abdulali says that even if all the plaster of Paris
idols are replaced with organic idols, releasing them into the sea changes the
balance of the ecosystem. “If people recycle Ganeshas, they should do so it in
such a way that the recycled material is returned to the ecosystem in which it
belongs, and not into another ecosystem,“ she says.
Immersions in artificial ponds, says Kumar, is a better option, as dirty water
is not immediately released into the sea and can be let out in small
quantities. Though this may be a relatively cleaner option, it is not 100%
eco-friendly, either. “When you drain these ponds, the polluted water goes back
into the earth and returns to us through the food chain. Also, while it is
expected that water from the ponds will be decontaminated before releasing it
into the sea, in practice, it does not always happen,“ says Abdulali.
Kumar says Ganeshas made of material that can be recycled are the best option.
Kumar cited instances of metal Ganeshas being immersed, removed from the water
and carried back home.
Abdulali, too advocates recycling Ganeshas. “The idols should be made of a
substance that can be recast into a Ganesh next year round. For instance,
people could make a silver Ganesh, which can later be recast into a statue next
year,“ she says.
