NAGPUR, July 14, 2013: The city will require at least 100 artificial tanks if the Nagpur Municipal Corporation succeeds in imposing a blanket ban on immersion of idols in lakes and water bodies. "NMC will have to spend Rs50 lakh to procure these tanks," health officer (sanitation) Dr Ashok Urkude told TOI.

However, a growing awareness about water pollution has prompted the NMC to join hands with NGOs to launch awareness campaign on the concept of immersing idols in artificial ponds. "Artificial ponds are eco-friendly and such immersions are slowly gaining popularity," said Dr Urkude.

Last year, the NMC obtained 50 artificial tanks which were placed near lakes. This year though, mayor Anil Sole has directed the health department to install at least one artificial tank in each prabhag. For this, 72 tanks will be required. "Besides these, at least 10 tanks each will be placed at Futala, Sonegaon and Gandhisagar lakes respectively," Dr Urkude added.

Welcoming the civic body's decision, Kaustuv Chatterjee, founder director of Green Vigil Foundation, said that last year his NGO along with other organizations was actively involved in lake conservation by restricting immersion of PoP Ganesh idols.

Green Vigil Foundation has also explored the need and success of artificial ponds for idol immersion. As per its suggestions, Futala lake and Gandhisagar witnessed the maximum number of immersions. "Futala is exposed to maximum danger as it is accessible from 3/4th area. It does not have any fencing. The side towards Amravati road is most affected," a Green Vigil study finds. Chatterjee proposed to install at least 40 units of artificial tanks here.

Similarly, Gandhisagar sees the requirement of 50 units of tanks. Here immersion is not allowed through the garden area. However, the lake is open and accessible from all other corners.

Sonegaon lake is the only place in the city to have a concrete artificial tank. Further, the accessibility is also restricted from one side. The number of immersions is comparatively less than the other two major lakes and therefore 15 tanks will be sufficient, Chatterjee said.

The artificial ponds provided last year have a capacity to accommodate 30 idols of 1-3 kg. Thus, at Futala, with 50 such ponds (if at all provided), 1,500 idols could be immersed. Hence, fast removal of idols from artificial ponds needs to be done, which was not done last year that resulted into water spilling over.

Apart from this, the NMC should also consider immersion of medium-sized idols, he pointed out.

"What is the point in restricting 100 small idols from being immersed in lakes when we do not have any option for a medium size idol, which is equivalent to 20 such small idols. NMC needs to have a back up plan for immersion of these medium size idols, which cannot be immersed in artificial tanks being provided by NMC," said Chatterjee.

Artificial ponds are a threat to those who earn good money from devotees by carrying their idols to the middle of the lake for immersion. "We were able to convince many devotees to immerse idols in artificial pond. Thus, the earning of those who carry idol to the middle of the lake got hampered. On the last day, we as well as NMC staff were shocked to note that 50% of the artificial tanks at Futala were punctured," said Chatterjee.

Source: The Times of India, DT. July 14, 2013.