CM to finally meet city mandals over eco-friendly Ganpatis

After repeated attempts, Prithviraj Chavan finally agrees to meet organisers today to discuss ways to make cheap eco-friendly deities

After repeated attempts, Prithviraj Chavan finally agrees to meet organisers today to discuss ways to make cheap eco-friendly deities

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan does believe in the saying better later than never.

After repeated attempts by organisers of Ganesh mandals to meet Chavan, the CM has finally decided to meet organisers today to discuss how to make the 10-day festival more eco-friendly.

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An artist applies the final touches to sculptures ahead of Ganeshostav

Ironically, the meeting was held just two days before the festival.

Fed up of constant notifications to make eco-friendly idols, representatives from the Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti (BSGSS) have decided to seek help from the CM.
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Organisers have grumbled that making deities eco-friendly was heavy on the pocket and demanded that the cost should be borne by the environment department, which falls under the CM's supervision.

"We are going to place our demands of providing concessions to idol makers as the cost involved is too high.
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The government needs to make provisions that enables all to make eco-friendly deities without putting a strain on the pocket," said Naresh Dahibawkar, President of BSGSS.

Echoing the same angst, Ulhas Kamat, spokesperson from GSB mandal, Wadala said, "If the government wants the eco-friendly idols, they need to provide makers with concessions."

And it isn't just concessions for eco-friendly materials that will be discussed at the meeting.

Pothole-ridden city roads, one of the big concerns will also be tabled during the conference. "We have submitted the findings of our report to the BMC about potholes.

Despite the astronomical prices of Gold, jewellers across the city are flooded with orders to make ornaments and jewels for Ganesha

This year, potholes might prove to be the biggest killjoy for the devotees as according to our survey, the routes used by us have approximately 2,400 potholes," added Dahibawkar.

How to go green
>> Avoid using idols made from Plaster of Paris (PoP). Instead opt for deities made of unbaked natural clay, natural fibre, or even recycled paper. Ensure that the dyes used to colour the idols are organic.
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>> Do not use thermocol or plastic as decorations for the deity. Use cloth, wood, paper, and other natural materials that are safer when immersed in water.

>> Immerse the idol in a tub or a tank specially made for the purpose. Later, you can discard the water by pouring it in your garden.

>> Collect offerings of flowers and other organic material and put them in a compost pit. These can be used to fertilise your garden. If you must immerse them, wrap them in newspapers instead of polythene bags.u00a0

BMC gets busy

248
Number of lifeguards that will be on duty during the festival

231
Number of steel plates that have been placed on the beaches

49
Number of motorboats that will patrol the beaches

39
Number of ambulances on duty at the visarjan sites

260
Number of civic officials on duty during the period

48
Number of mobile toilets installed for women

18
No of dumping vehicles deployed during the period

41
Health centres at the visarjan sites

33
Number of watch towers to keep an eye on proceedings

2,000
Number of volunteers from NGOs that will help out during the festivities