Nagpur: For the first time, all immersion idols have been banned in a body of water throughout the city.
“All idols including Sarvajanic Mandal must sink into artificial tanks,” said Municipal Commissioner Radhakrishnan B.
“Those who were found to violate the rules will be punished under the Act of Water Pollution (Prevention and Control), 1974,” he said.
Radhakrishnan said the decision was aimed at preserving city water bodies.
The citizenship body spends crores on the rejuvenation of the water bodies and allows idol immersion there will be a number of waste efforts, he said.
Citing notifications issued by the Maharashtra and NMC governments, the city commissioner told the Toi that the height of idols in Sarvajanik Ganesh Mandal had been limited to 4 feet and 2ft for individual households.
NMC has prohibited sales and purchases of pop idols in the city.
“If the limitation of height is followed, the idol of Sarvajanic Ganesh Mandal can also be immersed with an artificial tank easily,” he said.
Radhakrishnan said the state government had issued a notification for this effect in June and the civil body followed the same thing.
“The two notifications were released beforehand to rule out doubts about their strict implementation by the Civic body,” he said.
To prevent idol immersion, besides lake barricades, NMC will deploy civilian police and take police assistance.
Deputy Commissioner of Kota Rajesh Bhagat will issue a notification in this case in one or two days.
Assistant Commissioner City 10 Zone has been informed to start preparation to create artificial tanks, said a senior official from the solid waste management department.
AMC has been told to ensure that artificial tanks have been placed from the second day of the 10-day festival which starts from September 10.
NMC will fill water that cannot drink in an artificial tank, which will be taken from public and private wells.
It will also spread two cellular tanks in each zone to allow worshipers to immerse idols.
Two private companies engaged in door-to-door garbage collection have been instructed to collect Nirmalea and other Pooja materials from Sarvajanic Mandals and individuals based on alternative days.
“Nirmerya will be dumped in the nearby parks where it will be used to prepare compost.
Idol will also be disposed of in such a way that it will not endanger the sentiments of each person,” the official said.