Can’t allow idol immersions in ESZ unless Aarey Colony CEO gives NOC: BMC to HC

It said the immersion of Ganesh idols has been undertaken for the past several years at Aarey Talao for both private and public Ganesh Utsav celebrations. However, the same cannot take place without CEO’s nod.

Senior advocate Milind Sathe submitted an affidavit filed by Ramakant Biradar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Zone-II), in response to the PIL petition filed by the NGO Vanashakti, which wanted the BMC to prevent the immersion of idols in the Chhota Kashmir lake, Ganesh Mandir lake and Kamal lake in the Aarey Colony area. The petition, argued through advocates Tushad Kakalia and Yogesh H Pandey, also sought a direction to the BMC to make urgent alternative arrangements for creating artificial tanks for immersion outside the colony.

The NGO referred to a permission granted by the civic body on the letter of local MLA Ravindra Waikar to immerse idols in the Aarey Colony lakes and said it was in violation of a 2008 high court order and the Central Pollution Control Board’s guidelines.

A division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Arif S Doctor had on September 4 directed the BMC to submit details of steps taken to ensure that the immersion of idols in the Aarey Colony area is done in an eco-friendly manner during the Ganesh festival beginning from September 19. The bench had expressed surprise over such permission being granted despite a high court judgment and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines having barred the immersion of idols made from non-biodegradable material in natural water bodies.

The BMC in its affidavit stated that it had decided to implement CPCB guidelines for idol immersion of May 2020 in a phase-wise manner, “considering the scale of massive celebrations of the Ganesh Utsav in Mumbai and attraction of large idols and livelihood of people dependent on the same.”

The civic body has procured 2,400 tonnes of eco-friendly white clay (Shaadu) to supply the same to idol makers and actually supplied over 450 metric tonnes to various idol makers.

It added that ward officers have provided free-of-charge places to Shaadu idol makers and has made public appeal through newspapers requesting devotees to use shaadu or other eco-friendly material and to restrict height of household Ganesh idols to less than 4 feet and to immerse idols only in 191 artificial lakes/ponds provided by the civic body across Mumbai.

The BMC also said the meetings have been taken by respective Assistant Commissioners across wards with Ganpati Mandals (committees), idol makers and other stakeholders requesting them to celebrate the festival in an eco-friendly manner.