Trees to get temple blessings

Environment activists plan to collect about 3 tonnes of nirmalya from Chaturshringi temple and turn it into fertiliser; compost will be used for over 10,000 trees

Trees to get temple blessings

With the beginning of Navratri yesterday, the green crusaders of the city have undertaken the task of emerging victorious over the evil air pollution. They plan to collect about 3 tonne of nirmalya from Chaturshringi temple and turn it into fertilizer. The compost would then be used to nourish over 10,000 trees planted on ARAI, Hanuman and Chatuhshrungi hills.

Floral offerings to the goddess at Chatushrungi. Pic/Krunal Gosavi

The initiative – undertaken by Green Hills, an NGO, in association with the civic body – is expected to be a success, as the 300-year-old attracts thousands of devotees during the nine days of Navratri. Sunil Athawale, NGO president, said, “We are making the best use of nirmalya by utilising it to nourish the green cover. We expect to collect about 300 bags this Navratri.”

Athawale added that some of their members have hired labourers to dig several pits to treat nirmalya. “Also, the PMC had given us JCB machines to dig huge ditches,” he addedu00a0While Nandakumar Aangal, president of Chaturshringi temple trust, said, “We feel privileged to have got the opportunity to participate in such a constructive work. Now we plan to do this every year.”

Madhukar Karkud, sanitary inspector from Ghole Road ward office, said, “We’ll segregate nirmalya from plastic and paper and other material. While nirmalya will be used to make manure, the other material will be sent to Urali Devachi for recycling.”u00a0For the first time, flowers will be showered upon Goddess Chaturshringi from a helicopter this Dussehra. “We are in process of acquiring all sorts of permission for the event, which will be held on October 24. The palkhi procession will be taken out on the road near the temple. Even these floweres will be collected and used to make fertilizer,” said Anagal.

No load shedding during Navratri
Rajesh Tope, who has recently took charge of power ministry, yesterday announced that the state would not face load shedding for the next 10 days. “We had set a target of December 2012 to make Maharashtra a load shedding-free state, and are trying hard to increase Plant Load Factor (PLF). Presently, the government thermal plants have PLF of 64 per cent, while the ones run by private company have PLF up to 100 per cent,” said Tope.

Refuting reports that the state is purchasing electricity by private companies at higher rates, he cleared, “We are trying to use government-run power plants on an optimal level. But if we still face electricity deficit, we may purchase power from private companies.” u00a0

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