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Hans India
15 hours ago
- Hans India
Officials appeal for eco-friendly Gauri–Ganesha festivities
Mangaluru: With the Swarna Gowri and Varasiddhi Vinayaka Chaturthi festivals approaching, the Dakshina Kannada district administration has urged the public to avoid plaster of Paris (PoP) and chemically painted idols to protect natural water sources. Officials warned that immersing such idols in lakes, wells, and other water bodies leads to contamination, alters the physical and chemical quality of water, and poses risks to aquatic life, birds, and public health. Citing High Court orders and a Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) notification, authorities said immersing PoP or painted idols in any natural water source is banned. PoP idol makers and sellers without valid trade licences will face legal action. The administration has encouraged the use of clay or natural-material idols painted with eco-friendly colours. After worship, these should be immersed only at designated locations. Biodegradable waste like flowers, fruits, banana stems, and mango leaves must be separated and disposed of separately. Local bodies will inspect and seize PoP and painted idols, and permissions for public pandals will require compliance with eco-friendly guidelines, including restrictions on plastic decorations and loudspeakers between 10 pm and 6 am. The KSPCB has appealed to the public to celebrate this year's festival in an environmentally responsible manner to safeguard the district's water bodies and biodiversity.
Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
Ganesh Chaturthi: DCs urge public to use eco-friendly idols
Mangaluru/Udupi: District administrations of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, have appealed to the public not to immerse Ganesha idols with chemical colours in water bodies. The practice of installing PoP idols that use chemical colours, and then immersing them in lakes, wells, and other natural water sources, leads to water pollution. This alters their physical and chemical properties, adversely affects the environment, and poses a threat to the lives of animals, birds, and aquatic creatures. Additionally, polluted water poses a risk to public health, warned Darshan HV and Swaroopa TK, DCs of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, respectively. In line with the high court order and the notification from KSPCB, a directive has been issued to protect natural water sources from pollution caused during the festivals. Immersing PoP or coloured Gauri, Ganesha idols in any lake, well, pond, or other water bodies in the state is prohibited. The DCs urged the public to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi in an environmentally friendly manner. They emphasised the importance of installing eco-friendly clay Ganesha idols to prevent environmental harm. Given the possibility of PoP Ganesha idols being manufactured or brought in from other districts, Udupi DC Swaroopa suggested setting up checkpoints at district borders to prevent their use and encouraged the production and sale of clay Ganesha idols. "Efforts should be made at taluk-level to curb the transportation storage and sale of PoP idols. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Become Fluent in Any Language Talkpal AI Undo Surprise inspections should be conducted at manufacturing units and sales locations. Local bodies should designate specific areas in lakes and riverbeds for the immersion of traditional Ganesha idols. Collection units should be installed for the disposal of flowers and other materials used in the worship," said Swaroopa. Udupi SP Hariram Shankar said committees installing public Ganesha idols must obtain mandatory permissions from the police department and local bodies. The use of loudspeakers is prohibited from 10pm to 6am, he said, and recommended to install CCTV cameras and lighting arrangements in Ganesh pandals. Meanwhile, the KSPCB warned of legal action against those selling PoP idols. The immersion of PoP or coloured idols in any river, canal or well is prohibited. Violations will result in appropriate legal action, the board warned, suggesting that idols made of natural materials should be immersed at designated locations. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
PCB directs apartment complexes in Kochi to submit undertakings for sewage treatment plants
Kochi: Kerala state pollution control board (KSPCB) directed apartment complexes in the city, which are facing action for not installing sewage treatment plants (STPs), to submit undertakings by Wednesday as part of the move to extend deadline for installing STPs. KSPCB will conduct a hearing of residents of the apartments on Friday, and the move is expected to lead to a permanent solution for sewage treatment issues of more than 70 apartment complexes. Kerala state electricity board (KSEB) issued disconnection notices to 71 apartment complexes as per the directive of KSPCB, following high court directive to KSPCB to ensure STP facilities in these buildings. The decision, which warns of cutting off electricity to over 1,500 households within a week, sparked widespread concern among residents. While considering an impleading petition regarding the case, the high court asked PCB to consider granting reasonable time by demanding undertakings seeking time for compliance. Now, KSPCB started issuing notices to apartment complexes to submit the undertakings as per court's directive by attending the hearing. Court will consider the case at the next hearing on Sept 11, and Flat and Villa Owners' Association, Kerala (COFVOAK), is planning to sort out the issues by submitting the undertakings to PCB before the date. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and s ilver prices in your area.
Time of India
02-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Power disconnection stayed, flats get time to install STPs
Kochi: Apartment complexes that were served disconnection notices by Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) for failing to install sewage treatment plants (STPs) received temporary relief, as pollution control board (PCB) decided to grant them more time to comply. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The decision follows a directive from high court, offering a breather to the affected residential buildings. KSEB issued disconnection notices to 71 residential apartment complexes across the city for failing to install STPs in compliance with PCB guidelines. The decision, which threatened to cut off electricity to over 1,500 households within a week, sparked widespread concern among residents. When high court considered the suo motu case regarding the pollution of Thevara – Perandoor Canal, it also took into account the impleading petitions filed by different associations of affected apartment complexes and asked PCB to consider granting the petitioners reasonable time. "Considering the main purpose of initiating suo motu petition is to address the environmental hazards caused by the accumulation of filth and garbage in the canal, as regards the grievance of the applicant noticees concerning the short time given by pollution control board for compliance, we direct that if an undertaking (along with resolutions in case of companies/societies) is submitted by the noticees (even other than the applicants) seeking reasonable time for compliance, the pollution control board will consider granting such reasonable time, provided the undertaking expresses a genuine intention of compliance," said the court order. In the backdrop of the court order, the Consortium of Flat and Villa Owners Association, Kerala will convene a meeting of the affected families residing in 71 apartment complexes soon and each family will approach PCB with an affidavit or seek time for installing STPs. "Only three or four affected parties approached court. But the order is applicable to all. So, we have decided to approach PCB seeking extension of time. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Each apartment association can demand time as per their requirement. We will coordinate the activities," said Saju Abraham, chairman of the consortium. A senior official of KSPCB told TOI that they decided to accept undertakings from affected parties and KSPCB would grant proper time after examining conditions given in the undertakings. HC will consider the case at the next hearing on Sept 11, and the consortium is planning to sort out the issues by submitting the undertakings to PCB before the date. T J Vinod, MLA, strongly criticised KSEB, PCB and the municipality for issuing the notice. He said that he would bring the issue to the notice of chief minister. "PCB does not even have a list of approved agencies to establish STPs. Some flats received notice last month and are in the process of setting up sewage treatment systems, which could take up to 12 months to complete," said the MLA. All the flats that received the notice were built when these regulations were not in place. The municipality's action of leaving these residents, who trusted the occupancy certificate provided by the municipality and started living in the flats, was unacceptable, stated the MLA.
New Indian Express
01-08-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
PCB's ‘power' move to hit old flats without sewage treatment plants
KOCHI: The Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has initiated stringent measures, including notice to disconnect power supply, to 71 old residential flats in Kochi for failing to set up Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) on their premises. The move, especially, the issuance of power disconnection notice from KSEB, which acted on the direction of KSPCB, comes nearly a month after it issued closure notices to the flat owners, triggering panic among the residents. Earlier on June 23, the Kerala High Court issued detailed directions to the KSPCB and the Kochi Corporation to issue notices to entities responsible for polluting the Thevara-Perandoor Canal in the city. The directions were passed in a suo motu proceedings initiated by the High Court in 2022. 'With reference to the direction issued by the KSPCB under Section 33 A of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, this is to inform you that KSEB Ltd has been instructed to disconnect the electricity supply ... to non-compliance with statutory requirements,' read the notice dated July 30 received by the secretary of an Edappally-based flat complex. 'The associations have been trying hard to comply with the legal requirements, ie, setting up of STPs. However, what we request is to allocate us more time, say five months. Also, most of them do not have any free land available. They have to demolish other existing structures to make space available for the construction of STP. The closure notices were sent to the flats constructed before 2010, when the mandatory norms regarding STPs were not in force,' Abraham Joseph, chairman, Consortium of Flat & Villa Owners Association (Kerala), told TNIE.
