32 waterbodies identified for idol immersion in Vellore, nearby districts

Thirty-two waterbodies, mostly irrigation tanks maintained by the Water Resources Department (WRD), have been identified in Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur, and Tiruvannamalai districts by the respective district administrations and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) for idol immersion as part of Vinayaga Chaturthi.

Officials of the Vellore Corporation in view of the procession being taken out as part of idol immersion from Friday, encroachments — mostly roadside shops and extension of existing shops — on the procession routes were demolished to ensure the safety of participants.

“Civic officials and the police have installed wooden barricades near the waterbodies and along the procession paths, and taken other safety measures. ,” R. Lakshmanan, Commissioner, Vellore Corporation, told The Hindu. During immersion, a team of police personnel will be deployed along the identified waterbodies. The team will ensure that the immersion takes place near the lake bunds, and the entire procession will be video-graphed.

Corporation officials said that strict guidelines had been issued to the organisers of the events to prevent contamination of these lakes.

In Tiruvannamalai district, 12 waterbodies, including Thamarai Kulam, Polur lake, Singarapettai lake, Konarirayan Kulam, Aithu Kaan Varapathi lake, and Bhuma Chetty Kulam, have been identified for idol immersion. In Ranipet, two waterbodies each in Ranipet, Arcot, and Arakkonam towns have been identified for the purpose.

Adhiyur (Tirupattur), Kallukuttai (Natrampalli), Santrorkuppam (Ambur), Ponneri (Jolar Pettai), and Pallipattu (Vaniyambadi) are among the six lakes in Tirupattur. Four lakes in Vellore and Gudiyatham towns have been identified for the immersion.

TNPCB officials said that permission would be granted to immerse only those idols that are made of natural, biodegradable, and eco-friendly raw materials, and those free of plaster of Paris, plastic, and thermocol.

Additionally, only dried flower components and straw should be used for making ornaments for the idols. Use of any toxic, non-biodegradable chemical dyes, or oil paints for painting idols has been strictly prohibited, they said.