How Idol Immersion is Polluting the Ganga river in Kolkata, West Bengal: An Overview

Prof  Krishnajyoti Goswami; Dr Ipsita Mazumdar

Volume : VI, Issue : X, October - 2016

How Idol Immersion is Polluting the Ganga river in Kolkata, West Bengal: An Overview

Prof Krishnajyoti Goswami, Dr Ipsita Mazumdar

Abstract :

Water pollution due to industrial activities is well known worldwide. In India, however, pollution load is added upon by a special activity, of idol immersions during the festive season. Traditionally the worshipped idols are immersed in the holy river of Ganga. The paints used for coloring the idols and also the Sindoor applied to female idols, add to the Lead load in the river, which might be a source of heavy metal poisoning, since Lead is bio–accumulative, thereby affecting the entire aquatic food chain including humans. The present study attempts to collect and provide information about the Lead levels in water and idol immersion as an activity for adding to Lead load to the Ganges. Lead level in Ganges was measured by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry, in samples of water from Pre–immersion, Immersion and Post–immersion phase. Along with that pH, turbidity and conductivity of water is also measured. All the parameters showed highly significant increase during the Immersion phase. Also the Lead level measured is way above the maximum permissible limit in fresh water, by WHO, BIS, ICMR and ISO 10500:1991 standards.