Nagpur civic body builds 419 artificial ponds for Ganesh immersion, QR code to show location

To protect rivers, ponds and wells from pollution during Ganeshotsav, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has made large-scale arrangements this year. A total of 419 artificial immersion ponds have been built across the city for eco-friendly immersion of Ganesh idols, so that people immerse idols in these ponds instead of natural water bodies.

Along with this, the NMC has also deployed 18 nirmalya carts to dispose of nirmalya generated during Ganeshotsav in a scientific and eco-friendly manner. The artificial immersion ponds built at the Futala lake premises were inaugurated by Mayor Nita Thakre.

At a separate event held at the NMC headquarters, the mayor flagged off the nirmalya carts. Deputy Mayor Leela Hathibed, ruling party leader Balya Borkar, Shivani Dani, Abhijit Jha, Additional Commissioner Ankit, Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Bhagat and Chief Sanitary Officer Dr Gajendra Mahalle were present on the occasion.

Artificial ponds have been built in different areas of the city for small Ganesh idols, while large artificial ponds have been set up at Gorewada, Police Line Takli, Kachhi Visa in the Lakadganj area, and Koradi for the immersion of large idols. The NMC said that immersing idols in these designated ponds instead of natural water bodies would significantly reduce water pollution in lakes, rivers, wells and drains.

Mayor Nita Thakre appealed to citizens not to immerse Ganesh idols in lakes, wells or drains. She said the NMC has built a large number of artificial immersion ponds and that using them would help protect natural water bodies from pollution. Information about the artificial ponds is also being made available to people through digital means.

So that citizens do not have to search around for an artificial immersion pond near their homes, the NMC has provided a QR code and digital map facility. Scanning the QR code will give people information about the artificial immersion pond nearest to their area. It will include full details of immersion sites by zone, along with directions to reach them via Google Maps. The NMC has also created a special website for this, through which citizens can view complete information about immersion ponds on their mobile phones.