Mumbai's Eco-Friendly Ganesh Festival: A Tech-Enabled Transformation

The BMC will list artificial ponds for idol immersion on Google Maps during Mumbai's Ganesh festival. Over 200 ponds will be set up to promote eco-friendly celebrations. QR codes for pond locations and free clay for sculptors are among the initiatives aimed at reducing water pollution.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced on Tuesday that artificial ponds for idol immersion during the upcoming Ganesh festival in Mumbai will be listed on Google Maps. This initiative aims to simplify locating these ponds for residents and visitors.

In an effort to foster eco-friendly celebrations, over 200 artificial ponds are being established. The civic body is urging both individuals and Ganesh Mandals to utilize these ponds to mitigate the pollution of natural water bodies, which has been a longstanding issue due to the immersion of plaster of Paris idols.

To further facilitate this, QR codes providing locations of these ponds will be available. The BMC will also distribute free clay to sculptors for creating eco-friendly idols. Additionally, a coordination committee, chaired by Deputy Commissioner Prashant Sapkal, has been set up to ensure smooth celebrations, and an online one-window system has been introduced to streamline permissions for Ganesh Mandals.

(With inputs from agencies.)