Out of eight Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) of the city that showed interest for eco-friendly Ganesh immersion at various sites this year, only one NGO is actively helping Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) from Day One, Dr Gajendra Mahalle, Deputy Municipal Commissioner, Solid Waste Management Department, told The Hitavada.

Ram Joshi, Additional Municipal Commissioner, chaired a meeting of all NGOs recently in which they assured their support to the civic body. NMC allotted these NGOs to Futala Lake, Sakkardara Lake, Ram Nagar,

Empress Mill, Sonegaon Lake and Gandhi Sagar where a huge number of idols were expected to be immersed in artificial tanks. However, in the first five days of Ganesh festival, except Green Vigil Foundation, no other NGO was present at the given sites, claimed Dr Mahalle.

“After lifting of Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, people are celebrating Ganesh festival on a grand scale. Keeping the response in mind, we have doubled the number of artificial tanks this year for immersion,” said Dr Mahalle.

City-based NGOs help NMC every year during Ganesh festival for eco-friendly immersion. But, this year, NMC expected more from them. So far, only Green Vigil Foundation is helping NMC from Day One whereas other NGOs will likely join the civic body on the last day of the festival, said Dr Mahalle.

Lack of availability of city lakes for immersion of big idols this year, the civic body in association with District Collectorate and City Police, made arrangements to perform immersion of idols of Ganesh Mandals in 19 different spots outside the city. Whereas, for small idols, NMC is installing artificial tanks at different spots in the city. ‘Nirmalya Kalash’ is also installed on various visarjan spots by the civic body. To avoid pollution in city lakes and maintain cleanliness in city, the NGOs with the help of NMC urging citizens to dump Nirmalya and other Puja items in the Nirmalya Kalash and immerse idols into the artificial tanks.