Idol immersion ups sea water turbidity

There has been a rise in turbidity in sea water after immersion of idols during Vinayaka Chaturthi this year, according to tests conducted by Pondicherry Pollution Control Committee (PPCC) on three water samples.

Data collected from samples by Pondicherry Pollution Control Committee (PPCC), which monitored pre-Sept 10 and post-Sept 29  Vinayaka Chathurthi festival, shows that PH has risen by 3 percent,  2.2 and 1.1 percent in three samples.

The PH value at sub-surface (samples were collected at a depth of 4.0m from the surface) has risen to 7.82 ( from 7.6), 7.85  (from 7.68) and  7.92 (from 7.83), while in surface it has  changed from 7.74 ( to 7.72)  , 7.63 ( to 7.82) and 7.82 ( to 7.90).  However it is well within the permissible limit of  PH value (6.5 to 8.5).

Similarly the turbidity (property of a liquid, which in general terms describes the clarity, or haziness caused by individual particles suspended particles) that is generally invisible to  the naked  eye  has also increased.

The surface turbidity has increased by 43 per cent for surface, 17 per cent for subsurface for sample I, while in sample II it has increased by 16 per cent for surface with no change for sub surface and for sample III, surface turbidity has increased by 50 percent and sub-surface decreased by 20 percent. Even with this rise, the turbidity is very low at 3 to 4.2 NTU at various places when the permissible limit is 30 Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU) .

This shows tremendous improvement from the previous years, as the sea water was found to be highly polluted post Vinayaka Chathurthi. Based on directions by PPCC, special care has been taken to make the idols eco friendly in the use of dyes and other accessories.