Bhubaneswar, Oct. 16: The municipal corporation has started work on digging up immersion ponds along Kuakhai river on the city outskirts as directed by the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB).

The four new and bigger ponds, work on which started yesterday, are being dug up in view of the upcoming Durga Puja.

The earlier ponds dug up after Ganesh and Viswakarma Pujas were not only small but they also did not have the required polythene lining. While the earlier ponds were 1,800sqft in size, the new ponds will measure 4,000sqft.

"Polythene lining of immersion ponds is part of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines to prevent pollution of water as well as the surrounding soil. After a co-ordination meeting with the SPCB, we are creating new and bigger ponds for the immersion of Durga idols," said city engineer Dwipayan Pattanayak.

Another senior civic body engineer said: "Last time, when we had started digging immersion ponds near Kuakhai and Daya rivers, we were already late. So polythene lining of the ponds could not be done. Now before Durga Puja, we are creating new and bigger ponds as the city will celebrate the festival in over 160 pandals."

The new ponds will constantly maintain a water level of 12-15 feet. The civic body has decided to keep a powerful motor pump on standby to maintain the water level.

Civic body environment officer B.K. Routray, who supervised the construction of the temporary ponds, said: "We are following the guidelines prescribed by the CPCB. After the immersion, we will fish out the waste and dump it at our solid waste dumping yard near Bhuasuni."

The waste will be removed from the ponds 48 hours after the immersions.

Tankapani Road Sarbajanin Durga Puja Committee president Golak Das said: "There was a time when only organic colours were used for painting and decorating the idols. They used to make the colours near the pandals. Now the use of artificial colours has gone up, but we have asked our shilpi (artist) to minimise the use of artificial colours so that environmental pollution is minimal."

Senior environment officer of SPCB Bibekananda Bhol said: "The temporary ponds dug up by the civic body after Ganesh Puja will not be adequate for the idol immersion after Durga Puja. For this reason, we have asked the civic body to dig up bigger temporary ponds."

He added that the Puja committees had been advised to use organic alternatives for colouring and decorating the idols.

Environment expert Bijay Mishra said: "Both the civic body and the Puja organisers should be sensitised about possible river water pollution. The temporary ponds must be used by the committees to minimise the level of water pollution."