The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has said that as per the High Court’s orders, it will be mandatory to immerse Lord Ganesh idols under six feet in height in artificial ponds during the upcoming festival.

 

In a release issued after a review meeting between civic officials, office-bearers of Ganesh mandals and idol makers at the BMC headquarters, the civic body said it has made necessary arrangements for the immersion of idols below six feet.

 

The civic body has made available 281 artificial immersion ponds, besides 44 beaches and jetties and 23 natural lakes, taking the total number of immersion sites to 348. The locations of the artificial ponds will also be made available to citizens through QR codes and Google Maps.

 

According to officials, the BMC will deploy 1,132 lifeguards, 85 ambulances, 34 cranes and 10 motor boats, besides 498 ‘nirmalya’ (remnants of flowers, garlands) collection bins, 326 nirmalya dumpers and 6,052 floodlights and searchlights at the immersion sites.

 

To promote an eco-friendly Ganesh festival, the BMC has provided 858 tonnes of shadu clay and 25,400 litres of eco-friendly paint free of cost to idol makers.

 

Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde has also announced that free health check-up camps will be organised at or near public Ganapati mandals under the ‘Shree Ganesha Arogyacha’ initiative during the festival. The camps will include general health and eye check-ups, distribution of spectacles to those requiring them and breast cancer screening for women. The 10-day Ganesh festival is set to begin from September 14.