‘Inflation, increasing artificial ponds’: BMC spending on logistics for Ganeshotsav sees steady rise

This information was shared by the BMC in response to a query by city-based activist Godfrey Pimenta of the Watchdog Foundation.

Civic officials attributed the rise in cost to the inflation and the increase in number of artificial ponds in Mumbai whose popularity increased after the Covid-19 induced lockdown in 2020.

The BMC’s data shows that in 2019, the civic body spent around Rs 9.78 crore for providing logistical support during the festival, however, in 2020 the expenditure rose to Rs 20.78 crore.

“From 2020, the number of artificial lakes that were being set up has seen an increase. So, the logistical cost has automatically gone up. Prior to that we only had 1 or 2 lakes in every municipal ward. However, the number now is much more with several wards having 10-15 such lakes within their jurisdiction,” an official told The Indian Express.

The BMC’s data shows that this year the number of artificial lakes were increased to 290 from 205 last year.

Artificial lakes are inflated tubs or tanks that are being used by officials for idol immersion.

These tubs are placed on an immersion site set up at a BMC garden or park where citizens immerse their idols.

From last year, the Bombay High Court had directed the BMC to increase the number of artificial lakes in Mumbai since immersion of Plaster of Paris (PoP) made idols would lead to increase in water pollution.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has also been told to direct the water quality status.

The officials said that expenditure related to erection of stage, barricades and lighting have also increased in the past few years.

“Owing to the pandemic, the number of Ganpati mandals were also fewer between 2020 and 2022. Since 2023, we have also seen an exponential rise in the number of applicants. This has also led to an increase in overall cost to BMC,” the official said.

Furthermore, the BMC’s record shows that between August 31 and September 1, a total of 36,672 Ganesh idols were immersed. Last year, after the end of the fifth day of the festival, 38,717 immersions had taken place.

Out of the total number of idols that were immersed, around 36,537 idols were immersed in the artificial lakes.

The remaining 135 idols were immersed in public ponds.

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