As part of a fresh initiative to check pollution of the Ganga river, the Ganga Mahasabha, a voluntary organisation in Varanasi, has asked people not to immerse Durga idols, painted with artificial colours and chemicals, in the river during Navratri this year. Acharya Jitendra, the secretary of the Ganga Mahasabha, said that immersion of idols has been causing major pollution problems in the Ganga and its tributaries. "There is an extensive use of artificial paints and chemicals to make the idols look more attractive and colourful. These chemicals and paints get easily dissolved in water causing irreparable damage to water life," he said. The acharya agreed that immersion could not be banned due to religious considerations but asked people not to install idols made with alloys, plaster of Paris and other nonbiodegradable material. "It would be better if people used idols made with clay and non chemical colours," he said.