According to estimates of different environmental groups, around 1500 idols of Goddess Durga were immersed in the Ganga due to which more than 60,000 kg of toxic material, including thousand kg of lead and non bio-degradable stuff, were discharged in the river.
The River Ganga is already contaminated due to discharge of city wastes and industrial refuse.
The Board's Chairman Subhas Chand Singh told PTI today, "out of faith people prefer to immerse idols in sacred River Ganga but due to use of toxic materials nowadays in the idols its water is getting further polluted."
He said sample of river water was being collected to assess the level of pollution after immersions.
Pollution Board's scientist Navin Kumar said, "huge quantity of toxic paints and other synthetic materials are used nowadays to give a fancy touch to the idols. Plaster of Paris is opted more than the natural soil in the process. These are adding up pollution level of the water".
Noted environmentalist R K Sinha, popularly known as the "Dolphin man" said time has come to think of some alternative venues for immersion of idols as it is further polluting Ganga.
