Shillong: Khasi Students' Union members blocked Durga idol immersions at Nongmahir Lake on Wednesday. Activists from the Umsning Circle descended on the Ri-Bhoi district site to stop puja committees from dumping idols into the water. The union cited long-standing fears over environmental damage to the popular tourist spot.
Umsning Circle president Lester Nongbet and general secretary Laraplang Nongbri fronted the operation. They arrived alongside North Khasi Hills District general secretary James Hitler Mawphniang and village headman Elbin Ripnar. The team ensured zero immersions occurred throughout the day. Locals cheered the move to protect their water.
Nongbet said the union took the matter seriously, as "indiscriminate immersion of idols in rivers and lakes could contribute to environmental pollution." He pointed to the 2023 ban on immersions in the Umran River as a precedent for their actions. The union insists that idol disposals must stay in artificial ponds or custom-built facilities to meet standards set by the 1974 Water Act and 2010 Central Pollution Control Board guidelines.
The lake supports local jobs. Preservation is their primary goal. The KSU and village leadership finished their day by planting trees along the lake periphery. This project aims to shield the water from further degradation while keeping the area green.
Comments