Jamshedpur : As the familiar sound of the dhak resonates and denizens rejoice during the four-days of Durga Puja, the Steel City can expect a more eco-friendly festival this year.
In an effort to beautify Puja areas and restore its lost glory, Jamshedpur KendriyaDurga Puja Samiti( JKDPS) has decided to focus on cleanliness and safety during this festive season. The apex body of puja committees in the city has made it clear that the puja committees should make elaborate arrangements to ensure security and cleanliness of their campuses.
Besides this, officials has also requested administration to carry up work related to repair of roads and streamlining of power supply in the city, including strengthening of overhead cables and maintenance of cleanliness and sanitation during the festivals.
Ram Babu Singh, general secretary of JKDPS said that committees should earmark their priorities for work to be completed before the festivals. He promised to get the work completed within the stipulated time and asked the committee members to submit their problems in writing.
He went on to add that the members of the organisation have been directed to ensure that they use idols made of non-toxic colour only. From last few years they are working hard to stop water pollution during immersion of idols. This year too they would strictly implement the guidelines.
During the meeting, the members raised problems concerned with cleanliness of the ghats, electricity and other issues.
The general secretary said that they would take up the issue of cleaning and developing the Subernarekha Ghats with the district administration so that the immersion of the idols is held in a clean environment.
Several artisans from Kolkata who are busy making idols in the city said they were using mashed waste paper with natural clay and ‘multanimitti’ to make the idols.
“We are mixing clay with fig-tree juice, paper and glue for the material to make those. That is quite eco-friendly. The immersed idol dissolves in water in just 15 minutes,” said Sudipto Patra, an artisan making idols in Kadma.
“Eco-friendly statues have long been available in Kolkata. However, this is something new for us. Big idols tend to be less eco-friendly as plaster of paris is needed to make them along with synthetic colours,” said Sanjay Das, a senior functionary of Durga Puja Committee, Jugsalai.
He went to add that it is important to keep religious sentiments aside and look at the issue from the environmental perspective. People should favour eco-friendly idols so that religious occasions are not bad for the environment.
