Shillong, Oct 21: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) – Umsning Circle on Wednesday mounted a vigil near Nongmahir dam to prevent the Puja Committee of Zero Point area from immersing Durga idols in the dam.
The members were led by KSU Umsning Circle President Lester Nongbet and General Secretary Laraplang Nongbri in the presence of Nongmahir Headman Elbin Ripnar.
According to the statement, after waiting for some time, the Zero Point Puja Committee did not turn up to immerse the idols at Nongmahir dam after learning that the union was opposed to the move.
It may be recalled that in 2023, the KSU-Umsning Circle had strongly opposed and warned the Umsning Puja Committee against immersing idols in the Umran Dairy river, and now it has opposed the Zero Point Puja Committee from immersing idols at Nongmahir dam.
The KSU also pointed out that indiscriminate idol immersion is a violation of the Water (Prevention and Control) Act, 1974 as well as the guidelines issued by the Central Pollution Control Board in 2010, and that idols should be immersed in artificial ponds or temporarily dug ponds.
On the same day, the KSU members also conducted a tree plantation drive along the Nongmahir dam.
