IE : Ganesh Gaurav Competition - Only eco-friendly mandals can compete : Aug 28, 2007

GANESH GAURAV COMPETITION - Only eco-friendly mandals can compete: BMC
 Civic body to install nirmalya kalash, build artificial lakes for immersing
idols
 EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
AUGUST 28

P AVING the way for ecofriendly Ganesh Utsav this year, the Brihanmumbai
Municipal Cor poration (BMC) will permit only those Ganesh mandals which
have eco-friendly decoration, for participating in its Ganesh Gaurav
Competition.

The BMC will also install nirmalya kalash (urns to dispose flower offerings)
and build artificial lakes for the immersion of Ganesh idols.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Additional Municipal Commissioner
(eastern), Kishore Gajbhiye, said that the decorations made from plaster of
paris and thermocol are hazardous to environment and also, they do not
disintegrate easily after the immersion.

"It is the policy of the BMC to support environment-friendly Ganesh Utsav
and we will, therefore, initiate it through the Ganesh mandals," he said.
Though the rules also mention that idols should also be made of soil and
should not contain dan gerous and poisonous colours, most of the mandals opt
for large size and flashy colours.

The civic body has maintained that the maximum height of Ganesh idols should
not be more than 15 feet, but many mandals have readied idols that are over
25 feet in height.

Gajbhiye said that the civic body was late in appealing to the mandals for
reducing the height of the idol as the idols were already completed by July.
"From next year, we will hold meeting from January with the idol makers,
appealing them to prepare the idols from soil and environment-friendly
material and restrict the height as per norms," he said.
He also added that rules cannot be made compulsory in terms of tradition and
religious sentiments.

Mayor Shubha Raul has given directives to the civic administration to set up
artificial lakes in each ward so that Ganesh idols in residential areas and
homes can be immersed here.

"Then the devotees don't need to come till the sea-front, thus reducing the
traffic during immersion day," she said.

The administration also plans to set up additional nirmalya kalash for
decomposing the flower offerings.

Meanwhile, the BMC has released an information guide for the Ganesh Utsav,
commencing September 15, providing details about dos and don'ts, Ganesh
idols and traffic maps on the immersion day.


Publication : IE; Section : News; Pg : 3; Date : 29/8/07
URL :
http://70.86.150.130/indianexpress/ArticleText.aspx?article=29_08_2007_523_002