August 14, 2013: District Collector V. Sampath has called upon the organising committees of the Vinayaka Chathurthi celebrations — which falls on September 9 — and the local bodies to ensure that the festivities are observed without polluting the water sources and environment.

The Collector told reporters here on Tuesday that the district administration, in consultation with the police, had identified seven water sources across the district for immersion of Vinayaka idols.

These are as follows: the Gomukhi dam, Veedur dam, Sankarapuram lake, Thirunavalur lake, Ulundurpet lake, Arakandanallur Athulanatheswarar temple tank and the coastal stretch from Marakkanam to Kottakuppam.

He underscored the point that nothing should be done to spoil these water sources. In this aspect, the local bodies too had cut out a role for them as they ought to keep a watch for people breaking the rules.

From the making of idols till their immersion, the organisers ought to strictly follow the directions being given by the officials and the police personnel. Mr. Sampath further said that all the idols to be made for public worship on the occasion should be made of unbaked clay and should be devoid of any chemical paints.

Only such of those idols should be taken for immersion in the designated spots. Before dropping the idols into the water bodies, all the adornments such as clothes, paper and plastic articles ought to be removed.

The clothes that would be removed from the idols could be handed over to the orphanage and other solid wastes should be suitably disposed of, without causing any harm to environment or health hazards. Setting ablaze the vestiges of these articles was totally prohibited.

Mr. Sampath said that in this aspect the local bodies had a very responsible role to play.

They should remove all the litter near the water bodies within 48 hours of the immersion ceremony, to keep the surroundings clean.

The Collector had instructed the organising committees to issue hand bills highlighting these factors so as to create awareness among the devotees and the general public.

Sub-Collector Subodh Kumar, District Revenue Officer R.Brindadevi and others were present.

Villupuram, August 14, 2013: District Collector V. Sampath has called upon the organising committees of the Vinayaka Chathurthi celebrations — which falls on September 9 — and the local bodies to ensure that the festivities are observed without polluting the water sources and environment.

The Collector told reporters here on Tuesday that the district administration, in consultation with the police, had identified seven water sources across the district for immersion of Vinayaka idols.

These are as follows: the Gomukhi dam, Veedur dam, Sankarapuram lake, Thirunavalur lake, Ulundurpet lake, Arakandanallur Athulanatheswarar temple tank and the coastal stretch from Marakkanam to Kottakuppam.

He underscored the point that nothing should be done to spoil these water sources. In this aspect, the local bodies too had cut out a role for them as they ought to keep a watch for people breaking the rules.

From the making of idols till their immersion, the organisers ought to strictly follow the directions being given by the officials and the police personnel. Mr. Sampath further said that all the idols to be made for public worship on the occasion should be made of unbaked clay and should be devoid of any chemical paints.

Only such of those idols should be taken for immersion in the designated spots. Before dropping the idols into the water bodies, all the adornments such as clothes, paper and plastic articles ought to be removed.

The clothes that would be removed from the idols could be handed over to the orphanage and other solid wastes should be suitably disposed of, without causing any harm to environment or health hazards. Setting ablaze the vestiges of these articles was totally prohibited.

Mr. Sampath said that in this aspect the local bodies had a very responsible role to play.

They should remove all the litter near the water bodies within 48 hours of the immersion ceremony, to keep the surroundings clean.

The Collector had instructed the organising committees to issue hand bills highlighting these factors so as to create awareness among the devotees and the general public.

Sub-Collector Subodh Kumar, District Revenue Officer R.Brindadevi and others were present.

Programmes will be held as part of the idol installation ceremony of the deities of Vitthal-Rukmini, Ganapati and Sant Shiromani Namdev Maharaj at the newly built temple at Balikai Oni in Raviwarpeth here from August 17 to 20. Namdev Simpi Samaj Panch Committee President Somnath Ganjigatti said in a release that the temple was built at an estimated cost of Rs. 30 lakh. 

Source: The Hindu, DT. August 14, 2013.