Sambalpur: Eco-Friendly Puja and Immersion, Fatak and Thelkopada Puja Committees to be Awarded
Only 5 Idols Immersed in Artificial Ponds
Sambalpur: The Fatak Durga Puja Committee and Thelkopada Durga Puja Committee will receive awards for their environmentally friendly puja and immersion practices. According to Satyanarayan Nanda, Regional Officer of the Pollution Control Board, the decision was made during an official program organized by the district administration. This initiative received support from senior officials such as the District Collector, SMC Commissioner, and Pollution Control Board representatives. This is the first time that the district administration has taken such action.
Pollution Control Measures
Pollution during festivals has become a growing concern throughout India, and Sambalpur is no exception. The Durga Puja celebrations in Sambalpur followed several eco-friendly practices, as directed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). These include using natural clay instead of plaster of Paris for idol-making, organic colors instead of toxic chemicals, limiting idol height to 20 feet, and pandal height to 40 feet. Furthermore, after the puja, idols must be immersed in artificial ponds, with flowers and decorations removed before immersion.
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Strict Guidelines and Penalties
It was also prohibited to distribute prasad using single-use plastics and thermocol. Fines for violators can range from ₹3,000 to ₹7,000. The Pollution Control Board launched a number of awareness campaigns. Two puja committees in the city strictly followed these guidelines and will be recognized for their efforts.
Protection of Mahanadi
This year, the Sambalpur district administration established four artificial immersion ponds, one in Burla and one in Hirakud, to protect the Mahanadi River from pollution. The city authorities have advised all 65 Durga Puja committees to follow these guidelines. However, by the second day of immersion, devotees had submerged only two idols in Kacheri’s artificial pond, two in Durgapali’s pond, and one in Burla. Fatak and Thelkopada committees were among the few that fully followed the guidelines.
River Pollution Concerns
Despite these efforts, most committees chose to immerse their idols in the Mahanadi rather than use artificial ponds, raising concerns about further polluting the river. The SMC Commissioner praised the Thelkopada Puja Committee for their compliance.
In recent years, the administration has made last-minute plans for artificial ponds, but only a few committees have followed through. This year’s participation by five committees is a positive step. The Pollution Control Board hopes that other committees will follow suit and use artificial ponds for immersion tomorrow.
