Despite precautions taken by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to avoid water pollution in city lakes during Ganeshotsav, the efforts proved futile during immersion of Goddess Durga idols at Futala Lake due to poor arrangements by the civic body. During Ganesh Visarjan, immersion in lakes was completely banned and many private organisations joined hands with the civic body to spread awareness and help NMC staff ensure utmost use of artificial tanks. After all these efforts, Futala Lake suffers water pollution due to dumping of nirmalya and small idols in the lake. Condition of the lake exposed preparedness of the civic body post Ganesh Visarjan. It shows that NMC put efforts to make Ganesh Visarjan eco-friendly, however ignored idol immersion during Navratri with proper arrangements. Apart form this, the installed artificial tanks in Futala premises were also emitting bad odour due to dumped nirmalya and PoP idols.

 

“Devotees who came with good intentions deserve proper facilities. If NMC expects environmental responsibility from citizens, it must ensure clean, functional and adequately maintained immersion tanks,” said Surbhi Jaiswal, Team Lead, Green Vigil Foundation (GVF) to ‘The Hitavada’. Devotees who visited the lake premises for Mata idol immersion at Amravati Lake side of Futala, were compelled to immerse idols in filthy water of artificial tanks as well as in the lake water. For immersion, no arrangements were made by the civic body except two artificial tanks. “It was so difficult for us to find clean water for Mata Visarjan this time.

 

We were compelled to do it in the lake water,” said Ajay Dixit, a resident of Hill Top after visarjan. “We have made arrangements for visarjan at four major tanks in the city — Police Line Takli, Koradi, Gorewada and Kachhi Visa Ground. Visarjan is completely banned in lakes, including Futala. If visarjan took place in Futala then we will take action against the zonal officials,” said Rajesh Bhagat, Deputy Municipal Commissioner, Solid Waste Management Department.