People immerse idols of Lord Ganesh at artificial ponds in city | FPJ Photo/ Image used for representational purpose only
Immersion of Ganesh Idols made out of Plaster of paris (POP) was conducted by the Navi Mumbai Municipal corporation (NMMC) in artificial ponds.
In compliance with the recent High Court ruling on January 30, 2025, banning the sale of Plaster of Paris (POP) Ganesh idols and their immersion in natural water bodies, the civic body ensured a well-planned and efficient immersion process for Maghi Ganeshotsav. The city set up 26 artificial immersion ponds, where a total of 1,275 Ganesh idols were immersed, adhering to the court’s environmental protection guidelines.
” As part of the court’s directive, POP idols were only allowed to be immersed in artificial ponds, while idols made of Shadu clay could be immersed in natural bodies of water” , said an official.
. A total of 582 POP idols were immersed in the artificial ponds, while 693 Shadu clay idols were distributed between artificial ponds and natural immersion sites, with 34 in artificial ponds and the rest in 22 natural immersion ponds across the city.
The immersion process was carried out across eight municipal divisions under the supervision of the NMMC’s top officials. The Belapur division saw the highest number of POP idols immersed, with 120 idols immersed in the artificial ponds, followed by Vashi with 114 idols, and Turbhe with 118 idols. The other divisions included Nerul (41 idols), Ghansoli (97 idols), Airoli (78 idols), and Digha (7 idols).
Commissioner Dr. Kailas Shinde, along with Additional Commissioner Sunil Pawar, ensured that all the necessary arrangements were in place at both artificial and natural immersion sites. The coordination efforts of Deputy Commissioners Somnath Potre and Dr. Kailas Gaikwad, along with the dedicated staff of all eight divisions, helped facilitate the smooth execution of the immersion process.
Under the guidance of City Engineer Shirish Ardawad, a total of 26 artificial immersion ponds were created throughout the city, with careful attention to the electrical setup and waste management procedures. The Solid Waste Management Department, under the supervision of Dr. Ayaz Gadge and Santosh Warule, ensured immediate collection of wet and dry floral offerings to maintain cleanliness at the immersion sites.
