Berhampur: The Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) has set up 4 artificial ponds at different locations in the city for the safe and environment-friendly immersion of idols during the festival season beginning Ganesh Puja. The temporary ponds were built at Vivek Vihar near Ambapua, Gosaninuagaon, in front of Binayak Acharya College and at Meenakshi Nagar for immersion of the idols. Each pond measures around 15×15 sq ft and is two metres deep and built as per the guidelines of the pollution control board.“Work on the temporary ponds has been completed. We requested all puja organizers to immerse the idols in the designated temporary ponds without immersing in any other natural pond,” said Sanghamitra Dalei, mayor of BeMC. The immersion of idols is likely to begin from Wednesday. Barricades and lighting arrangements will be made near the pond sites.Police personnel and civic body staff, along with hydraulic vehicles, will be deployed at each temporary pond to facilitate the safe immersion of idols, a BeMC engineer said. “These temporary ponds will also be used for the immersion of idols during Durga Puja. If needed, they would erect some more artificial ponds,” said Bikash Padhy, city engineer of BeMC.The artificial ponds have been created to prevent puja organisers from immersing idols in natural water bodies, which could lead to pollution. After the water is drained, the civic body will transport the remaining debris to the dumping yard, he said. “We have also appealed to puja organisers not to pollute the ponds while immersing the idols,” said Sudhir Rout, environmental activist.
