Chennai, Sept 12:
The Southern Zone Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has banned the immersion of Vinayagar idols at Pattinapakkam and Neelankarai beaches in Chennai, citing environmental concerns.
The tribunal also directed the Tamil Nadu government to examine whether idols arriving at the two beaches could be diverted to other designated immersion points.
The matter came up for hearing in connection with a petition filed in 2023 by Hariharan of Pudhupettai, Chennai, seeking action against the immersion of Vinayagar idols in unauthorised water bodies.
During the hearing, the Tamil Nadu government informed the tribunal that Kasimedu, Tiruvottiyur, Ennore, Pattinapakkam and Neelankarai had been identified as locations for Vinayagar idol immersion.
The petitioner’s side opposed immersion at Pattinapakkam and Neelankarai, pointing out that the coastal stretches are environmentally sensitive, fall under the Coastal Regulation Zone and are areas where turtles breed.
The tribunal questioned why idols being brought to environmentally sensitive locations such as Pattinapakkam and Neelankarai could not instead be diverted to other designated places.
The State government said such a move would have to take into account law-and-order issues, crowd congestion and the possibility of religious tensions that could arise if the immersion locations were changed.
The tribunal stressed the need to create greater public awareness about the environmental importance of Pattinapakkam and Neelankarai. It directed the State government to submit an explanation on the feasibility of diverting Vinayagar idols arriving at these two beaches to alternative locations.