NMC to provide space for free for sale of Ganesh idols made of clay
| Date :21-Aug-2019 |
Staff Reporter:
Health Committee chief speaks to District Collector for necessary approval to making available space at Kasturchand Park or Chitnis Park
In order to encourage environment-friendly Ganeshotsav, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has decided to provide space for free for sale of Ganesh idols made of clay. NMC is mulling over providing space to such vendors at Kasturchand Park or Chitnis Park grounds. “Nanda Jichkar, Mayor, made the suggestion during a meeting of Ganeshotsav Mandals held today. I have already spoken to District Collector as his permission is required for use of Kasturchand Park or Chitnis Park. The district administration will give its opinion, considering the directives of the court,” said Virendra Kukreja, Chairman of Health Committee.
Prof Anil Sole, MLC, speaking at the meeting of Ganeshotsav Mandals in the city at NMC on Tuesday. Nanda Jichkar, Mayor; Deepraj Pardikar, Deputy Mayor; Pradeep Pohane, Chairman of Standing Committee; Virendra Kukreja, Chairman of Health Committee, and others also are seen.
He told ‘The Hitavada’ that providing space at only one location would make it easy for vendors to sell the clay idols, and also for the buyers. The vendors will have to erect the stalls at the location finalised after getting approval from the district administration, and NMC will not recover charges from them, he added. Earlier in the day, during the meeting, Mayor asked the civic administration to ensure that the the court directives regarding immersion of idols were followed. “NMC should make available space for free to vendors of idols made of ‘Shaadu’ clay,” she suggested.
She asked NMC officials to take up inspection to check the sale of idols made of plaster of paris. She appealed to the people to install clay idols at home during Ganeshotsav and make the festival eco-friendly. Besides, the people should not immerse ‘nirmalya’ (pooja waste) in the water bodies. Instead, they should hand it over to the volunteers of NMC or non-Government organisations who will be rendering their services near the water bodies on immersion days. Prof Anil Sole, MLC, also was present in the meeting. He urged the people to immerse the idols installed at home, into the water tanks to be placed by NMC at various locations across the city. He also appealed to the Ganeshotsav Mandals to help the cause of making the festival environment-friendly.
Tanaji Wanve, Leader of Opposition, demanded that NMC should reduce charges recovered from Ganeshotsav Mandals while granting permission for the festive season. Jichkar said that ‘appropriate decision’ would be taken in this regard. Deepraj Pardikar, Deputy Mayor; Pradeep Pohane, Chairman of Standing Committee; Virendra Kukreja, Chairman of Health Committee; Pintu Zalke, Chairman of Water Supply Committee; Ram Joshi, Additional Municipal Commissioner, were present prominently in the meeting. Zalke said that NMC would award the Ganeshotsav Mandals making presentations on judicious use of water, rainwater harvesting, environment protection, measures taken for groundwater recharge etc. At the outset, Kaustav Chatterjee of Green Vigil Foundation made a presentation on the ill-effects of idols made of plaster of paris, on the water bodies and the ecosystem. He attracted the attention of the gathering towards the norm that the idols made of plaster of paris should be marked with red sign. A documentary on eco-friendly Ganeshotsav celebrations also was shown on the occasion. Dr Sunil Kamble, Health Officer (Sanitation), conducted the proceedings of the meeting while Dr Bhavana Sonkusale, Deputy Director (Health), proposed a vote of thanks.