Mumbai, Awareness on conducting Ganeshotsav festival in an eco-friendly manner has started seeping in slowly with more number of artificial lakes used for Ganpati immersion this year.
According to Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) data, around 31 artificial lakes were used for immersion in areas like Dahisar, Kandivali, Borivali, Parel and Bandra, while only 25 were used in 2015 and 2014.
Artificial lakes are constructed on a muddy land by placing a plastic sheet over it. After the idols are immersed in it, the MCGM removes the residue from the pond and allows the remaining water to be absorbed by the mud.
Vijay Khabale, (MCGM), spokesperson said, “There is higher awareness among people in the city with a rise in the number of artificial lakes for immersion this year.” With lakhs of small and big idols being immersed in the sea during visarjan, POP and the paints used on the idols have polluted the city’s coastline over the years.
Darryl D’Monte, of the NGO Apna Mumbai Abhiyan said, “Devotees are more concerned about water pollution and hence have started using artificial lakes for immersion now.”
A physical survey by officials of Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) also revealed that there is likely to be less water pollution at Girgaon Chowpatty this year since many devotees have switched to using eco-friendly idols.
“We have collected the samples from Girgaon Chowpatty. However, the physical survey has revealed that many idols were made of eco-friendly materials which do not pollute the water. The results of the water samples collected from other areas would take around eight more days”, said an official from MPCB.
The samples were collected on the 1st, 5th, 7th and 8th days after the idols were immersed. Results of the various tests – Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Dissolve Oxygen (DO) will be available in eight days..
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