Mumbai, Sep 30 (PTI) More than 97 per cent idols of Lord Ganesh were immersed in artificial ponds in Mumbai during this year’s Ganpati festival, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said on Wednesday.
In a release issued on Wednesday, the BMC said a total of 1,97,382 idols were immersed in the city during the Ganesh festival. Of these, 1,92,237 idols, which is 97.27 per cent, up to six feet in height were immersed in 383 artificial ponds set up across the city.
Of the total number of idols immersed in artificial ponds, 1,22,391 were made of plaster of Paris (PoP) and 69,846 were made of ‘shadu’ clay, it said.
A total of 5,382 idols taller than six feet were immersed at 67 natural immersion sites, including beaches and other water bodies.
These comprised 5,259 PoP idols and 123 shadu clay idols, the civic body said.
Mayor Ritu Tawde and Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi thanked devotees and Ganapati mandals for opting for artificial ponds and contributing towards an environment-friendly festival, the release said.
The BMC had created 383 artificial ponds at various locations, including open plots, gardens and grounds, to provide devotees with immersion facilities close to their homes.
The civic body also undertook awareness campaigns urging citizens to use artificial ponds to reduce the environmental impact of idol immersion on natural water bodies. As a result, crowds at several beaches for idol immersion were reduced, it said.
As part of its pre-festival measures, the BMC had provided more than 940 metric tonnes of shadu clay free of cost to idol makers and 25,400 litres of environment-friendly colours for making eco-friendly idols.
More than 25,000 civic officials and employees were deployed along with machinery and other resources to ensure safe and smooth immersion arrangements, the BMC said.
The measures were implemented in accordance with directions of the Bombay High Court, instructions of the Maharashtra government and guidelines issued by the Central Pollution Control Board and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, the release said.
The arrangements included artificial immersion ponds, promotion of environment-friendly idols, security at immersion sites, collection of nirmalya (offerings of flowers, leaves, fruits, and other biodegradable material) and post-immersion collection and management of idol material, the civic body said.
The Ganesh festival, the official state festival of Maharashtra, commenced on September 14 and concluded on September 25. PTI KK NP
