Immersion Of Idols In Water Bodies: NGT Forms Committee To Simplify Guidelines On Occasion Of Vinayagar Chaturthi Festival In Tamil Nadu

The National Green Tribunal (southern zone) has constituted a three member committee to simplify guidelines for immersion of idols in view of Vinayagar Chaturthi festival in Tamil Nadu, which is proposed to be celebrated on September 18.

“...To ensure the implementation of the same (guidelines on idol immersion by Madras High Court), we direct that a Committee may be constituted comprising of (i) Secretary to Government – Public Department, (ii) Additional Chief Secretary/Commissioner – Revenue Administration, and (iii) Chairman – Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board headed by the Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Forests to simplify the guidelines in consonance with the CPCB Guidelines and enforce the same in all the districts,” said the bench of Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and Dr. Satyagopal Korlapati.

These observations came in response to the appliaction filed by a resident of Chennai, who highlighted the issue of contamination of water bodies during the Vinayagar Chaturthi and other festivals.

The Tribunal noted that, “These applications are signs of the efforts to improve the well- being of the City/State’s environment.”

When these idols are immersed in artificial tanks, the remnants are to be collected and disposed of by the local authority unlike when they are done in water bodies where the idols sometimes float away and cause pollution in the water or come back to the shore, the bench added.

The bench further noted that Madras High Court in a PIL (W.P. (MD) No.21124 of 2023) has already revised guidelines for idol immersion issued by the CPCB.

The counsel appearing for the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board submitted that necessary communication in this regard has been sent to all the District Collectors to be conveyed to the local authorities to follow the above guidelines.

Considering the submissions, NGT directed the committee to simplify the guidelines in consonance with the CPCB Guidelines and enforce the same in all the districts.

The NGT also specifically directed that the eco-sensitive water bodies like the one mentioned in this application viz., Pulicat Lake, Rivers, Estuaries, Ramsar wetlands, etc. be consciously avoided.

While listing the matter for September 20, the Tribunal said, “As the festival is fast approaching and in the State of Tamil Nadu, it is already proposed to celebrate on 18th September 2023, let the authorities take necessary action in this regard.”

Case Title: Hariharan v. The District Collector Tiruvallur

Appearance: Advocate A. Yogeshwaran for applicant.

Dr. D. Shanmuganathan for TN State. Mr. S. Sai Sathya Jith for TNPCB For respondents.