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The Narendra Modi government has issued a 15-point directive, which includes cordoning-off ghats and levying a fine of Rs 50,000, prohibiting the immersion of idols in Ganga and its tributaries during the celebrations of religious festivals like Dussehra, Diwali, and others. The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) issued the order to chief secretaries in 11 Ganga-basin states.

ThePrint asks: Idol immersion in Ganga fined: Which other rituals should Modi regulate for environment?

More dangerous than idol immersion is ritual bathing or snans in rivers like Ganga

Manoj Misra

Convenor, Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan

This is a stringent fine and its implementation will be a herculean task. Since idols of various sizes are immersed, the question is whether the same fine will be applicable for big and small idols.

So, the rationale behind such orders needs to be fleshed out a lot more. Hundreds and thousands of idols are immersed into the Ganga, which begs the question: who will monitor the immersions and who will fine people? Furthermore, what will the exceeds from the fine be used for?

I am not endorsing the practice of idol immersion and I do think that it is very wrong, especially the manner in which it is done. However, there needs to be more viable alternatives before such orders are issued. Otherwise, why have a directive that will only end up being violated?

Another custom that I think needs to be regulated — more than idol immersion — is regular snans or ritual bathing. They need to be better regulated and specific locations need to earmarked for such practices. And this should not be enforced only during the Kumbh Mela, but also during other major religious festivities.

We only have regulations pertaining to crowd management, but no one is noticing what these crowds are doing to the rivers.

Also read: Govt sanctions Rs 5,800 crore for cleaning 34 polluted river stretches, Ganga excluded

Public nuisance, like using roads & parks to offer prayers, in the name of religion should be banned

Arun Anand

Author of ‘The Saffron Surge:Untold Story of RSS Leadership’ and ‘Know About RSS’

A government can form a law, but ultimately it is the society that has to ensure that the law is implemented both in letter and spirit. There are many practices cutting across religions that have become public nuisances, but as no one wants to be politically incorrect, most political parties and governments overlook them.

For example, take the case of religious processions. They are allowed by the government in the name of honouring religious sentiments without caring about the inconvenience caused to common people.

Similarly, use of loudspeakers should be banned altogether in the name of religion. It is one of the greatest causes of noise pollution. Those who are using roads and parks to offer prayers instead of offering them in mosques should also be taken to task by authorities. Most importantly, all encroachments on public land by religious institutions should be dealt with strictly. All this needs to be done in a time-bound manner and, if needed, separate laws should be formulated for it.

Also read: Deadline to clean Ganga is next year but less than 30% of sewerage infra is ready

Muslims have no such practice and are completely against the pollution of rivers

Kamal Faruqui

Former member, All India Muslim Personal Law Board

Idol immersion is a religion-based ritual practice, which I am completely against. Muslims have no such practice, and we are completely against the pollution of rivers.

I have Hindu friends, who hold these practices dear, but we need to understand that such rituals can have a harmful impact on the environment. Rivers like the Ganga and the Yamuna are lifelines for people across the country and polluting them will have an adverse impact. In fact, on Ganesh Chaturthi, we immerse idols in the sea as well, polluting them too.

I do not think that such a move is enforceable because of the immense significance of the Ganga. People throw flowers in it, take a bath, and also immerse ashes of the dead.

I also believe that a fine of Rs 50,000 is too exacting for the public, a majority of whom are ill-informed. It is ironic that, on the one hand, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is trying to declare India a Hindu Rashtra, and on the other hand, this move is being implemented. This seems quite conflicting, but points to the main fact that this directive is not implementable.

Instead of fines and bans in India, popular leaders like Modi & Mamata should aim at changing mindsets

Rasheed Kidwai

ORF Visiting Fellow and political analyst

Imposing a fine on religious rituals is not a great idea in a country like India where faith is an integral part of everyday life. Popular leaders like Narendra Modi and regional satraps like Mamata Banerjee should instead use persuasive techniques to encourage people to change attitudes and increase compliance.

Our political culture has hardly transcended votes and occasional outrage, and there are no systematic channels of communication to improve society’s mindset. This is more pitiable and absurd considering that Mahatma Gandhi was such an effective communicator and a role model who influenced our collective psyche.

Influential figures like celebrities, community and religious leaders should be engaged in communicating the benefits of environmental conservation to the public. On a larger scale, efforts should be made to involve film, short film, documentary and soap opera makers so that themes on social change reach everyone.

In terms of the legal framework, fines should be imposed only on habitual offenders. More importantly, application of law should be universal and even-handed. Even a cursory look at bans, restrictions and fines imposed on religious rituals would show how certain communities get away with offences, while others are made to mend their ways through strong-arm techniques

Not just idols, Modi govt must regulate immersion of dead bodies and other items too

P.K. Mishra

Professor of chemical engineering, IIT BHU

It is important to understand that although the practice of idol immersion is not very old, it has already started impacting our dams, canals, and rivers by polluting them. I welcome Modi government’s decision to ban idol immersion, and believe that this is a good idea, but it is not enough. Additionally, the government needs to maintain surface disposal standards so that all the waste is redirected elsewhere apart from the water bodies. Otherwise, instead of rivers, people will start immersing idols and disposing of waste in ponds, which will reach the groundwater and contaminate it.

There are not many prominent rituals related to idol immersion, however, the Modi government should most definitely regulate and clamp down on the immersion of dead bodies in rivers, instead of ashes.

It should also regulate the immersion of taziya, which is predominantly made of bamboo, that Muslims make during Muharram. Essentially, anything thrown into a water body — be it rivers, ponds — should be penalised. These items could include flowers, milk or even ashes.

By Revathi Krishnan, journalist at ThePrint

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