Eco-friendly Dussehra in various parts of city

New Delhi: As Delhi witnesses intense festival celebration, the state government took numerous steps to ensure environment safekeeping by celebrating both Durga Puja and Dussehra in an eco-friendly manner. In one of the many steps taken by the Delhi government, artificial ponds were dug in different parts of Delhi for the immersion of idols. These ponds were filled with water using tankers.

Areas like C R Park, Nehru Park, Greater Kailash (GK), Alaknanda and Kalkaji saw many artificial ponds being dug in for the idol immersion.

"The immersion has been in a systematic way so that there is no chaos. This will prevent a lot of pollution in Yamuna and reduce chaos of traffic jams on the immersion day," said a statement by the state government.

The order came in the wake of water pollution in Yamuma, where National Green Tribunal (NGT) came up with a decision to bring down post-immersion pollution in Yamuna and ordered a stop to any kind of idol immersion in the river. This decision was followed by a Delhi government order stopping immersion of idols in Yamuna.

"We appreciate that a pond has been created to immerse the idols. These are much more convenient and the water is far more cleaner than Yamuna here," said a Puja Committee member at Astha Kunj near Nehru Place.

Meanwhile, in a bid to celebrate an eco-friendly Dussehra, a 30-35 ft effigy of Raavan, made of plastic waste, was disposed of mechanically at Ramlila Ground on Monday. In a first of its kind move, the effigy made fully out of plastic was burnt on the festive season of Dussehra.

Speaking on the occasion, Durga Shankar Mishra, Secretary of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), who was present at the event, said "We are immensely happy with the support of CMA in waste shramdaan activities, showcasing the process they are using to manage single-use plastic waste." The initiative was taken by Cement Manufacturers Association (CMA) in collaboration with the MoHUA.