Mumbai witnesses increase in number of Ganesha idols

Mumbai: Over 3000 more Ganesha idols were immersed on the last day of Ganesh Chaturthi in the city this year as compared to 2009, civic officials said on Thursday.

According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), 1,91,072 Ganesha idols were immersed on Wednesday, an increase of 3,566 idols, as compared to the 1,87,506 idols immersed last year.

The eco-friendly method of immersion of the idols initiated by the BMC two years ago also received a good response this year, the officials said.

Over 12,500 idols installed in households and public venues were immersed at 19 artificial ponds across the metropolis, as compared to last year's figures of 8,383 idols immersed in 17 artificial ponds, they said.

During the 11-day festival, the solid waste department of the BMC collected 3,200 metric tonne of 'nirmalya', the officials said.

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NGOs United Way and Clean Mumbai Foundation along with BMC workers had undertaken the task of keeping the beaches clean during the immersion.

This year, the civic body maintained an electronic database of all the Ganesha mandals to simplify the permission procedure and also bring to book those mandals that flout norms.

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The civic body also waived off the security deposit from Ganesha mandals and instead asked them to level up roads that are dug up to erect make-shift platforms for the deity.