Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) Solid Waste Management Department has set up at least 419 artificial tanks for immersion of Ganesh idols throughout Nagpur for the upcoming Ganesh festival.
Concerned about the rising pollution in water bodies in the city, NMC cordoned off all lakes and imposed complete ban on idol immersions in these lakes. The civic body is practicing this rule in city from last 2-3 years. A review meeting of Ganesh festival arrangements was held at NMC head office in Civil Lines on Wednesday. Dr Abhijit Chaudhari, Municipal Commissioner and Administrator chaired the meeting.
Aanchal Goyal, Additional Municipal Commissioner, Dr Gajendra Mahalle, Deputy Municipal Commissioner, Solid Waste Management Department and other senior officials of various departments were also present in the meeting.
Usually, after the installation of the Ganesh idol on Ganesh Chaturthi, the ritual of immersion takes place after the 1.5th, third, fifth, seventh, and eleventh day. A large number of people immerse the idols of Gauri and Ganesh on the fifth day. The civic body has arranged for artificial immersion tanks to facilitate the immersion process.
Besides, the NMC has also banned the use of Plaster of Paris (POP) idols and is taking extra precautions to ensure they do not enter the water. Even, on Wednesday, Municipal Commissioner has issued a stern warning to traders selling banned PoP idols in city. Dr Chaudhari said that any shop caught selling PoP idols for a second time then the civic body will shut down the shop and take legal action, following High Court directives.
NMC has big artificial tanks at Kachhi Visa Oswal Bhavan, Gandhi Sagar Lake premises and Sonegaon Lake premises. Up to 4 ft tall idols can be immersed in these three big tanks, whereas, for big idols of above 4 ft height can be immersed in Koradi based artificial tank.
Dr Chaudhari appealed citizens to celebrate the festival with eco-friendly manner and maintain cleanliness in city throughout the festival. He also urged citizens to buy only clay idols and immerse them in artificial tanks. As per the directives of High Court, the civic body is also distributing undertaking forms to all Ganesh Mandals for not using PoP idols during the celebration.
Among these 419 tanks, 331 are of centring tanks, 31 are of rubber tanks, 32 tanks made up of pits, 3 tanks are of concrete and 22 mobile tanks. The tanks will be available in all the zones of NMC. The civic body has also appointed employees to help the devotees in carrying out the immersion process. NMC employees will also maintain cleanliness in the premises.
For the1.5th day immersion, NMC will install 30 artificial tanks in seven zones. Laxmi Nagar Zone will have two artificial tanks, seven tanks will be installed in Dharampeth Zone, two tanks each in Hanuman Nagar and Satranjipura Zones, and one tank each in Dhantoli, Nehru Nagar and Mangalwari zones. All the 419 tanks will be installed till the Ananta Chaturdashi day.
Dr Chaudhari also instructed NMC officials to reuse the water of such installed artificial tanks after the immersion and clean the clay idols in a dedicated place.
