DC instructs officials to protect water bodies during festive season

DC instructs officials to protect water bodies during festive season

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Sep 3, 2016:  DC T. Venkatesh, on Sept 2, Friday directed officials to take steps to prevent pollution while immersing idols of Lord Ganesh during the Ganesh Chaturthi.   Chairing a meeting of officials of the Udupi City Municipal Council and other urban local bodies on checking pollution of water bodies.

DC  Venkatesh said that the officers should give information on pollution control measures while giving licences to the organisers of Ganesh festivals. The organisers should be given a copy of the conditions which they should follow during the festival.

The people should also be told not to use Ganesh idols made of plaster of Paris. Neither should the use of chemical colours for making of the idols be permitted. The organisers should be instructed against immersing idols of plaster of Paris or those which had been painted with chemical colours in lakes, pond or other waterbodies.

They should be warned that any violation of these regulations would invite legal action.  DC also directed the officers of the Department of Environment to inspect those areas from where there were complaints of pollution of water bodies. He also discussed the issue of underground drainage system and with the officers of the urban local bodies.

The DC collected information from the officers on the efforts being made to make Udupi, a fully ’open defecation free’ district.  The issues of maintenance of public toilets in Kundapur town and the cleanliness drive taken in Karkala town also came up. DC Venkatesh directed the officers to take measures to prevent reckless use of banners and posters during festivals in towns in Udupi district.