Over 8 lakh Ganesh idols collected in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad

The Ganesh idols immersed in steel tanks increased to 3,62,319 this year as against 2,82, 604 in 2024. The idols immersed in artificial concrete tanks were 1,13,136 as compared to 1,01, 281 last year.

The procession of the famous Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganesh Mandal began at 3.45pm on Saturday and concluded at 9.23 pm at Panchaleshwar Ghat the same day (Express Photo)

Following the Bombay High Court directive restricting immersion of Ganesh idols in natural water bodies, a total of 6,54,410 idols, which is over 90,000 more than last year, were immersed in the civic facilities or artificial ponds this year. Last year, a total of 5,59,952 idols were immersed in the artificial ponds.

According to Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), 1,78,955 Ganesh idols were collected at the centers set up for citizens to donate the idol so that they are not immersed in rivers and the material is reused. However, the donation of Ganesh idols increased minimally compared to that of total collected 1,76,067 last year while the collection was 1,10,821 in 2023.

The Ganesh idols immersed in steel tanks increased to 3,62,319 this year as against 2,82, 604 in 2024. The idols immersed in artificial concrete tanks were 1,13,136 as compared to 1,01, 281 last year.

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The PMC also informed that 923398 kg of floral waste was collected during the 11 day Ganesh festival this year as against 706478 kg last year.

According to PCMC officials, as many as 1,62,636 idols were collected at the 8 centres set up on river ghats by the civic administration. The highest number of 39,993 idols were collected under the ‘B divisional office of the civic body.

”Not a single idol was immersed in the three rivers passing through the city. Of the total idols collected, 29,591 were environmentally friendly and 1,33,041 from Plaster of Paris,” officials said.

The Bombay HC had directed mandatory immersion of Ganesh idols up to six feet in artificial ponds to avoid pollution of natural water bodies so the civic bodies encouraged citizens to donate their Ganesh idols at its 241 collection centres across the city.

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“PMC increased the number of installations of artificial tanks, mainly steel tanks, across the city. There were 648 steel tanks at 281 locations and concrete tanks at 38 locations in the city for citizens to immerse Ganesh idols,” said Sandeep Kadam, incharge of civic solid waste management department.

The PMC after collecting all Ganesh idols immersed in artificial tanks re-immersed them in a quarry in Wagholi.

Ajay Jadhav

Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune. He writes on Infrastructure, Politics, Civic issues, Sustainable Development and related stuff. He is a trekker and a sports enthusiast. Ajay has written research articles on the Conservancy staff that created a nationwide impact in framing policy to improve the condition of workers handling waste. Ajay has been consistently writing on politics and infrastructure. He brought to light the lack of basic infrastructure of school and hospital in the hometown of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde even as two private helipads were developed by the leader who mostly commutes from Mumbai to Satara in helicopter. Ajay has been reporting on sustainable development initiatives that protects the environment while ensuring infrastructure development. ... Read More

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