The plight of Yamuna river in Delhi after Durga puja

The river Yamuna in Delhi is further polluted after the 9 days Durga puja celebrations in Delhi which culminates in the indiscriminate throwing of all the idols into the already dying river.

This is the state of affairs even after a strict order by the National Green Tribunal(NGT) in September itself after it woke up to the sorry state of the immersion ghats after Ganesha festival.

Most of the Ganesha idols and the Durga idols are made of plaster of Paris and painted with toxic substances which includes lead and other heavy metals. All end up poisoning the ground water and the ecosystem.

It must be remembered that last year Sr Sri Ravi Shankar of the Art of Living conducted a World Peace Forum in the banks of the Ganga which was objected by the National Green Tribunal(NGT). The rules were flouted and the religious head had to pay a fine of 5 crores. None of us know if this was paid and if so the river was resuscitated with the funds. All we know is that public memory is short and we do not ask uncomfortable questions.