Despite prohibitory orders, ashes immersed near temple

Despite prohibitory orders against immersing ashes in River Cauvery near Kashi Visveshwaraswamy temple at Dodda Gosai Ghata, violations go unabated daily.

The taluk administration has imposed prohibitory orders, on May 23, 2011, against immersing ashes, following a complaint by the temple authorities, that the water is being contaminated. Besides the taluk administration, the Religious Endowment department has issued a similar order on August 5, 2013. Yet, ashes continue to be immersed at the spot.

Recently, two organisations, Parisara Rural Development Society and Jeevadhare Trust petitioned the Deputy Commissioner to ensure that the orders against polluting the river are implemented.

In the petition submitted on June 9, the organisations have noted that fruits, pots, flowers and other utensils used for the ritual, along with plastic, are being disposed in the river, apart from the ashes. The accumulation and subsequent decay of the waste results in foul smell, the organisations have noted.

The petition by Mangala M Yogish of Parisara and S M Nataraju of Jeevadhare has alleged that a private land near the temple has been rented out for the immersion of ashes. The owner allows people coming from different parts of the State to perform the rituals, increasing contamination of the river water. The petitioners have noted that the devotees visiting the temple take bath in the same river.

Some also consume the water, considering it to be holy, which leads to health issues.
The District Administration should initiate legal action against those violating the law, they have urged.