Thane disposes 18,600 kg of Ganesh idol immersion waste scientifically
Thane civic body collected over 18,600 kg of nirmalya during one-and-a-half-day Ganesh idol immersions and processed it into organic compost.
On Tuesday, one-and-a-half-day Ganesh idols were bid farewell, and Thane residents extended strong support to eco-friendly immersions. The Thane Municipal Corporation's environment-friendly immersion campaign, aimed at preventing pollution of lakes and other water bodies during Ganeshotsav, has been receiving an encouraging response from the city's residents.
During Tuesday's one-and-a-half-day immersion, a total of 20,703 Ganesh idols were bid farewell. During this period, the municipal corporation collected around 18,600 kg of nirmalya. This entire nirmalya has been scientifically disposed of, and work has begun to convert it into organic compost.
The Solid Waste Management Department of the Thane Municipal Corporation had planned the management of nirmalya this time in a decentralised manner. Nirmalya offered by devotees at immersion ghats, artificial ponds and idol collection centres was immediately picked up and transported to the city's three main processing centres.
The nirmalya is being scientifically processed into organic compost at mechanical bio-composting projects set up at Hiranandani Estate, Ritu Park and Kausa. As a result of the municipal corporation's appeal, citizens have significantly reduced the practice of putting plastic in the nirmalya. Of the 18,600 kg of nirmalya collected, plastic bags accounted for only 3 percent. Municipal corporation staff separated this non-biodegradable plastic from the nirmalya and sent it directly to the Material Recovery Facility centre for disposal.
Timely and proper collection, sorting and scientific reuse of the large quantity of nirmalya generated during Ganeshotsav is helping the administration prevent pollution in Thane's lakes, creek banks and other water bodies. The municipal administration has appealed to devotees not to immerse nirmalya in water bodies during the upcoming fifth-day, seventh-day and Anant Chaturdashi immersions, and instead offer it in the municipal corporation's nirmalya kalash, so that cooperation in eco-friendly management continues.
For composting nirmalya through the bio-composting method, a total of 18,600 kg of nirmalya was collected at the bio-composting compost project of the Thane Municipal Corporation's Solid Waste Management Department. This nirmalya will be processed into organic compost, while non-biodegradable components present in it will be separated and sent for recycling.
