AMN /

With the festive season soon approaching, the National Green Tribunal, NGT has passed a slew of directions to prevent pollution of the Yamuna river. It includes a ban on immersion of idols except those made from bio-degradable material.

A bench headed by the NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar yesterday said, idol immersion should be allowed only of the ones which are made from bio-degradable material and not plastic or plaster of Paris. Only those colours should be used on the idols which are environment-friendly.

Favouring designated sites for immersion of idols, the tribunal directed Irrigation Department of the Delhi government and Uttar Pradesh to hold a meeting with the Vice Chairman of Delhi Development Authority to immediately identify such sites.

The tribunal has directed the authorities concerned to notify and publicise about immersion of idols on ghats to enable the people know about the identified sites for immersion.