New Delhi, May 19 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday announced a government drive to recycle damaged idols and offer an alternative to citizens who release such articles of faith in water bodies, including the polluted Yamuna.

In a message, the Chief Minister also sought to engage citizens in the drive and invited their suggestions on locations to open centres to collect idols for recycling.

“We’re launching dedicated centres to respectfully recycle our cherished idols, a heartfelt step toward a cleaner, culturally mindful Viksit Delhi,” she wrote on X.

“Have a location suggestion? Public participation makes every good initiative stronger. Share your ideas, and let’s honour faith with dignity and responsibility, together,” said the Chief Minister on X.

The Chief Minister’s video message on social media triggered a prompt response from people, with one of them saying, “Every temple has a donation box. Likewise, every locality should have a dedicated ‘Murti Kalash’ for respectfully depositing broken idols. Collection centres located far away discourage people from disposing of them properly. Faith deserves dignity, and accessibility is the key.”

Another social media user commended the Delhi government initiative. “Your initiative for the respectful disposal/management of broken or damaged idols of deities is truly commendable. This is a very thoughtful step towards respecting our faith, culture, and religious sentiments. Heartfelt thanks and congratulations to you for this noble initiative.”

The Delhi government’s initiative to offer alternatives to citizens to immersion of idols in the Yamuna aligns with the vision of Lieutenant Governor T.S. Sandhu) who has vowed to clean the river and identified sustainability, inclusion, culture, innovation, economic growth, and compassion as the five essential pillars of Delhi’s future development.

Speaking recently at a felicitation programme organised at JNU’s School of International Studies (SIS), of which he is an alumnus, the Lieutenant Governor underlined that governance should be responsive, accessible, and humane.

Sandhu identified air pollution, cleaning of the Yamuna River, rejuvenation of water bodies, effective waste management, sustainable mobility, and enhanced green cover as issues central to Delhi’s urban vision.

“The Yamuna must not only be cleaned; it must be restored, as a vibrant ecological and cultural lifeline of this city,” he said.

–IANS

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