Nagpur sets up 447 artificial ponds at 225 spots for Ganesh immersion

The Nagpur Municipal Corporation has completed preparations to ensure Ganesh immersion on Anant Chaturdashi is safe, well-organised and environment-friendly this year. The civic body has set up a total of 447 artificial immersion ponds at 225 locations across the city.

Around a thousand civic sanitation workers will be deployed across different areas during the immersion to handle cleanliness, security and public convenience. Separate larger ponds have been arranged for bigger Ganesh idols.

Mayor Neeta Thakre inspected the artificial ponds and other arrangements at Sakkardara Lake, Gandhisagar Lake, Police Line Takli, Koradi Lake, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Ground-Kacchiwisa and the Naik Lake premises on Wednesday. She gave clear instructions to officials that devotees coming for idol immersion should not face any inconvenience.

According to the corporation, the large-scale artificial immersion arrangements this year are aimed at protecting the city's water sources from pollution and safeguarding the environment. A total of 447 artificial ponds have been prepared at 225 locations in different parts of the city. The purpose of these ponds is to ensure that people do not immerse idols in natural lakes and water bodies, and that Ganesh idols are immersed safely.

For the ninth-day immersion of Ganesh idols, the corporation had built 137 artificial ponds at 49 locations, in which a total of 2,286 idols were immersed. Of these, 2,124 idols were made of clay and 162 were made of POP.

The Nagpur civic body has made special arrangements for the immersion of large Ganesh idols. Separate large ponds have been provided for immersing big idols at Gorewada, Police Line Takli, Kacchiwisa and Koradi. Besides this, 22 mobile immersion ponds will also be available in the city for public convenience, providing relief to residents of areas where reaching a permanent artificial pond could be difficult.

Mayor Neeta Thakre directed officials to ensure adequate barricading, deployment of security guards, proper lighting arrangements, availability of drinking water, and posting of swimmers at necessary locations. Municipal Commissioner Dr Vipin Itankar spoke of deploying riot control personnel and police officers at the immersion sites. Ruling party leader Balya Borkar and opposition leader Sanjay Mahakalkar were also present on the occasion.