MBMC wakes up to need for controlling pollution of water bodies during Ganpati

Mumbai: After scrapping the project of creating eco-friendly ponds for four consecutive years, the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) has finally woken up to the need of checking the unabated pollution of water bodies in the twin-city during the immersion of Ganesha idols.

MBMC chief Balaji Khatgaonkar has directed PWD officials to create at least one artificial pond at the immersion point at Shivaar Lake in Mira Road.

The concept of eco-friendly immersions was introduced in 2012 by former civic chief Vikram Kumar. The trend was continued by his successor Suresh Kakani, who created five artificial ponds that recorded 642 immersions in 2013. But since then the MBMC has shunned the idea of creating artificial ponds.

With 2,100 immersions recorded on the final day, of the Ganesh festival, the total number of Ganesh idols which graced the twin-city stood at 19,751 last year.