the goan I network
VASCO
Not only were locals displeased that the Ganesh idols were floating in the dirty waters of the stream, they also were surprised that despite appeals and campaigns to promote eco-friendly idols, some artisans were still selling idols from the PoP to unsuspecting devotees.
On Saturday morning, some passers by and locals were shocked to see around 15 Ganesh idols resurface in the dirty waters of the stream at Chicalim.
Considering it a sad Saturday morning for him, a local, Ganraj Dessai, said he was disappointed at the ugly spectacle to find several broken and half-dissolved Ganesh idols floating in the stream barely 100 mtrs from the Chicalim Panchayat office.
"It is time for people and residents of Chicalim to understand that it is disrespectful to God to have holy idols be lying around like garbage and that too, in dirty waters. I request the Chicalim Panchayat to take strict action in banning PoP Ganesh Idols and request residents to use alternative options like the sea around Chicalim or Bogmalo for their Visarjan (immersion ceremony)," said Dessai, a regular motorist between Vasco and Panjim,
Incidentally, a number of PoP Ganesh idols had resurfaced at the Baina shore last year.
RTI activist Narayan Naik of neighbouring Sancoale was seen fuming at the sight of the PoP idols.
"This place has been used by residents for Visarjan for many years as this stream connects the sea at Chicalim. But today, the stream is mixed with garbage, sewage and gutter water that comes right from new buildings constructed at upper Dabolim."
"Lord Ganesh is considered Shreshta and we commence any ritual with a pooja of Lord Ganesha. I wonder why people haven't approached the panchayat body to deepen the stream so as to facilitate the flow of Ganesh idols into the sea," said Naik.
"The place is packed with garbage and overgrown bushes which block the flow of water and prevent idols from flowing into the sea. This stream should have been cleaned up by the panchayat before Ganesh Festival as a precautionary measure."
"People celebrating Ganesh festival with so much fervour and enthusiasm and then ending it by performing Visarjan in this dirty water flowing from gutters and sewage is an insult to God," Naik added.
‘Artificial pond to be built in
Dabolim for Visarjan next year'
VASCO: Admitting he was made aware of some Ganesh Idols resurfacing at a Chicalim stream, Chicalim Deputy Sarpanch Kamla Prasad Yadav said the panchayat would resolve this issue by conducting a proper Visarjan of idols that resurfaced on Saturday and by building an artificial pond in Dabolim next year.
"Yes, I had received calls from people saying some Ganesh idols had resurfaced at the Chicalim stream. I am being told that the water is contaminated with sewage water and gutter water and I will have to check this."
Claiming that the panchayat had made efforts to clean the stream, Yadav added: "This year, we had cleaned the area and removed the muck. On Sunday, I along with other members of the Panchayat will conduct a good Visarjan of idols that have re-surfaced today," Said Kamla.
Asked what steps the panchayat would take to avoid such situations in future, Yadav replied: "There is an open space in Dabolim and I will ensure that a pond is built in the open space for about 50 households that celebrate Ganesh in Dabolim next year. I look forward to the immersion of the Famous Dabolicha Raja Sarvajanik Ganesh in the pond next year."
