River March initiative members urge Ganpati mandals to shun plastic decorations and avoid giving prasad in plastic containers; they also plan to produce manure using nirmalya
The members are also talking with the mandals along the Dahisar and Poisar (pictured) rivers so that the people staying in the slum pockets adjacent to them are educated about the negative impact of throwing plastic waste and garbage into the river. File pic
Members of an environmental initiative want to ensure Mumbai's water bodies don't suffer during this year's Ganpati celebrations. Citizens attached with the River March initiative are meeting Ganpati mandals in Borivli and Dahisar, especially along the slum pockets on the banks of Dahisar and Poisar rivers, and appealing them to avoid using plastic during the festival for decorations and while giving prasad. They are also planning to produce organic manure using flowers offered to the deity.
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'Ganpati the best platform'
On August 9, more than 300 representatives from various Ganpati mandals had gathered in a program organized by BMC at Prabodhankar Thackeray auditorium, where River March members made their eco-friendly Ganpati appeal.
Shanta Naidu, from the River March initiative said, "While cleaning rivers through our initiative, we have removed thousands of kilos of plastic. We want our message of not using any plastic to reach the masses and the Ganpati festival is the best platform. We are already in talks with various Ganpati mandals, who have also positively responded and said they will minimize the use of plastic so that it prevents pollution."
The members are also talking with the mandals along the Dahisar and Poisar rivers so that the people staying in the slum pockets adjacent to both water bodies are educated about the negative impact of throwing plastic waste and garbage into the river.
"We have requested the mandals to avoid plastic decoration. We have also asked mandals not to use plastic spoons, dishes and use eco-friendly ones instead. We have also asked them to collect the flowers that are offered to the god in one huge nirmalya. If possible, they should make a pit, where compost from the nirmalya can be prepared," added Naidu. The River March team is also asking mandals to ban plastic bags.
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