Thane civic body rolls out eco-friendly immersion plan ahead of Maghi Ganpati festival

Thane civic body has directed sculptors and vendors selling plaster of Paris (POP) idols to maintain sale registers. Representational image

The Maghi Ganpati festival begins on Thursday, January 22, and will continue for 10 days. Ahead of the festival, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has organised eco-friendly arrangements for Ganpati idol immersions. TMC Commissioner Saurabh Rao urged devotees and public mandals to use the designated facilities to ensure environmentally responsible celebrations.

The eco-friendly immersions have been arranged by the municipal corporation to minimise environmental impact. Furthermore, TMC has directed sculptors and vendors selling plaster of Paris (POP) idols to maintain sale registers detailing the idols sold.

The civic body is also compiling data from mandals on the material and height of idols installed, based on which a structured immersion plan has been prepared.

As per an official statement from TMC, the civic body has urged public mandals to go for smaller, symbolic idols, and adhere to size-wise immersion guidelines.

Idols measuring 2 to 3 feet are to be immersed in tanks, 3 to 6 feet in artificial lakes, and those above 6 feet at designated creek ghats. TMC has also clarified that water generated from immersion activities will be treated and purified by the municipal corporation before being released into natural water bodies. Chief Environment Officer Manisha Pradhan stated that strict purification protocols will be followed.

Immersion facilities across Thane

• Kopri-Naupada: Masunda Lake Ghat (artificial lake); Kopri Immersion Creek Ghat
• Kalwa: Nisarg Udyan (1 tank); Parsik Reti Bandar, Kharegaon Lake Ghat, Vitawa railway track area, New Shivaji Nagar (artificial lakes); Parsik Reti Bandar, Kalwa Immersion Ghat (creek)
• Diva: Dativli Pond (artificial); Khardigaon Creek Ghat
• Mumbra: Reti Bandar (2 tanks), Ranagar (1 tank); Reti Bandar Ghats 1 and 2 (Ranagar), Babaji Patil Wadi Ghat (creeks)
• Majiwada-Manpada: Rewale Artificial Pond; Kolshet, Balkum, and Gaimukh immersion ghats
• Wagle: Road no. 22 near Neptune Element Company (1 tank); Railadevi Artificial Pond (1 tank)
• Vartak Nagar: Payladevi Temple Upavan Pond (1 tank)

The Thane civic body has further urged citizens to cooperate and celebrate the festival responsibly, ensuring devotion goes hand in hand with environmental protection.

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