The Hindu : New Delhi News : Experts warn against choking Yamuna with religious ‘samagri’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 22, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

Experts warn against choking Yamuna with religious ‘samagri’

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

“The rules, efforts made by Delhi Govt. not enough to save the river from this festive onslaught”

NEW DELHI: While the city is busy enjoying its festive season, environmentalists have asked Delhiites to spare a thought for its dying Yamuna. Already choked with high pollution levels, the indiscriminate throwing of religious “samagri” will further deteriorate the “health of the river”, warn environmentalists.

“Though there are rules regulating throwing of religious ‘samagri’ and immersion of idols, they are almost always flouted, which leaves the river more polluted each festive season. Rules and efforts made by the Delhi Government are clearly not enough to save the river from this seasonal onslaught,” said Vinod Kumar Jain, founder chairman of NGO Tapas.

The Delhi High Court had ordered last year that no religious “samagri” can be thrown into the river and wide publicity should be given by the Government and other agencies to make people aware of it.

Further, the court was also informed by the Government that 13 locations have been identified on the banks of river to make designated enclosure to immerse religious “samagri” during festivals and within 24 hours the agencies concerned would clean the said areas.

‘Create awareness’

Added Mr. Jain: “We have been requesting the Government to implement the rules laid down by the High Court. However, we are yet to see any results. The Government has failed to educate the public about it. We have written to the Chief Minister, Chairman of Delhi Pollution Committee, Vice-Chairman of Delhi Development Authority, Commissioner of Municipal Council of Delhi and Usha Mehra Committee asking them to re-look into the matter,” he added.

Admitting that though there are existing guidelines and rules to regulate/ protect the Yamuna and reduce the amount of religious ‘samagri’ being dumped into the water, there is little that the government can actually do to prevent people from throwing the same, R. C. Trivedi of the Central Pollution Control Board said: “During the festival season things become very difficult to regulate. There are identified areas where immersion and religious ‘samagri’ can be thrown into the river, but we are not able to prevent people from dumping things into the river where ever they want. Till we make this a social responsibility we will not be able to protect the river. We have to regulate the amount of pollutants being thrown into the river. However, it should be understood that compared with the sewage that flows into the river each year this onslaught is not very significant. That, however, in no way means that the things can be allowed to go unregulated and unchecked.”

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