Pollution control board awards for NCR’s eco-friendly Durga Pujas on October 24

The award, called Saktibhute Sanatani Paribesh Bandhab Sarodotsab Sanman, 2017, which was conceptualised five years ago but this time has been organised along with the CPCB, will see CR Park’s Cooperative Pujo Committee and Gurgaon’s Bangiya Parishad take top honours on October 24.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), along with Bengal Association of Delhi, is set hand out awards to Durga Puja organisers across the NCR that celebrated the festival in an environmental friendly manner.

CR Park’s Cooperative Pujo Committee and Gurgaon’s Bangiya Parishad will be awarded the Saktibhute Sanatani Paribesh Bandhab Sarodotsab Sanman, 2017, on October 24 (Burhaan Kinu/HT PHOTO)

The award, called Saktibhute Sanatani Paribesh Bandhab Sarodotsab Sanman, 2017, which was conceptualised five years ago but this time has been organised along with the CPCB, will see CR Park’s Cooperative Pujo Committee and Gurgaon’s Bangiya Parishad take top honours on October 24.

Using CPCB guidelines, the Bengal Association judged the Durga Puja preparations — from pandals to idol immersions — on different parameters like the use of eco-friendly clay for idols, natural and herbal dyes, environmental-friendly paper decorations, use of biodegradable products, energy-efficient lighting and fixtures at the pandals, cleanliness and waste management.

“The idea is to encourage more puja organisers to celebrate the festival in an eco-friendly manner. We need to minimise the impact on our micro environment. Our motto is to describe and demonstrate the aspects and issues. It’s our prime duty to pay attention to our environment. Use of natural colours, less energy consuming energy, segregation of waste, and people’s participation in Swachhata Abhiyan was the target to achieve a clean, green festival,” Dipankar Saha, head of CPCB’s air lab, said.

Officials from Bangiya Parishad, Sector 56, Gurgaon, that shared the top prize, said they went the extra mile to make celebrations eco-friendly. “We used no plastic, even kept paper cups for water and melamine plates for food. There was a complete waste management system with a compost pit, which was used during the puja days. We even got HUDA land for on-site immersion to avoid further polluting the Yamuna. The award recognition for the work we did for the environment,” Sanjay Banerjee, president, Bangiya Parishad said.

Other winners are Paschim Vihar Bengal Association and Saptarshi Sangha, Sector 50, Noida, (joint 2nd prize); Nabapally, Pocket 40, CR Park and Milani Cultural Welfare Association, Mayur Vihar, Phase 1 (joint 3rd prize); Dakhinayan Puja Samity, M Block, GK-II, Nibedita Enclave Puja Samity, Nibedita Enclave, Paschim Vihar, and Bangiya Aikya Sanmilani, Mayur Vihar, Phase-3 (special prize).

Sarbojanin Durga Puja Samity, Molarbandh Extn, Badarpur, Omex Green Vally Durga Puja Samity, Faridabad, Sarbojanin Durga Puja Samity, Sector 12, Noida, Prantik Cultural Society, Indirapuram, Ghaziabad and Dakhinayan Puja Samity, Dwarka got the encouraging prize.

“In a city like Delhi, which is so highly polluted, celebrating the environment is the need of the hour. Even the Supreme Court order banning firecrackers reiterates the same point: Celebrations and festivals without harming the environment. Last year, we had 42 puja organisers registered with us, but the number was over 60 this year. This will increase as more and more people become conscious,” Tapan Sengupta, general secretary, Bengal Association said.