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Eco-friendly Immersion - Wash-Melt Process Instead Of Immersion in Ganga For Durga Puja Idols in Kolkata

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Instead of immersing the Durga idol after Durga Puja, Kolkata civic body is planning to offer Durga puja organisers the option of melting the idols with jets of Ganga water. This environment-friendly immersion process is already followed by Naihati Kali pujas.
The Telegraph India reports
In the proposed process, the melting of idols, after completion of the religious rituals, symbolises immersion.

“We want to introduce the wash-melt process, at least at Babughat, after Durga Puja. Discussions are on with the fire services. The puja organisers will have the option of choosing this process or going for the conventional one,” said Debasish Kumar, mayoral council member (parks and garden). 
This is a welcome move to minimise Ganga pollution. Despite the widespread use of lead-free paint last year, lead contamination of the river has increased,” said Krishnajyoti Goswami, a scientist working on lead pollution. 
Representatives of many of the clubs welcomed the proposal. “The Hooghly is extremely polluted and immersing thousands of idols in it is only adding to the pollution. The wash-melt model is much better,” said Nitish Saha, the president of Forum for Puja, the consortium of more than 100 pujas in the city. 
“The actual immersion happens long before the idol is consigned to the river. Hence, the idol can definitely be melted with Ganga water. However, it may take some time to change the mindset of the people,” said Partha Ghosh of the Sibmandir puja committee and vice-president of the forum.