Pune: Alandi Municipal Council Promotes Eco-Friendly Ganesh Immersion with Artificial Ponds and Idol Collection Centres
Alandi, 27th August 2025: As the sacred town of Alandi prepares to welcome Ganpati Bappa, the Alandi Municipal Council has rolled out special eco-friendly measures to ensure that the Indrayani River remains pollution-free this Ganesh festival. The 10-day celebration, beginning August 27 and continuing till September 6, will see five artificial immersion ponds and five idol collection centres set up across the city.
For generations, devotees immersed Ganesh idols in the Indrayani River. But with growing concerns over pollution and its adverse impact on the environment, the council imposed a ban on river immersions nearly a decade ago, a policy strictly enforced to this day.
To make compliance easier, the council has ensured that devotees can either immerse their idols in artificial ponds or hand them over at designated collection centres, from where municipal staff will manage safe immersions. Alongside, Nirmalya (floral offering) collection facilities have also been arranged, supported by garbage trucks and tractors to keep the ghats clean.
In all, five team leaders, assistant leaders, and 75 staff members will supervise the process. A disaster management cell has also been stationed at the Indrayani ghats to ensure crowd safety.
The immersion schedule will begin with one-and-a-half-day idols on August 28, followed by immersions for three, five, seven, nine, and eleven-day celebrations.
“We appeal to devotees to celebrate Ganeshotsav with social and environmental responsibility. Idols should be donated or immersed in artificial ponds instead of the Indrayani River,” urged Madhav Khandekar, Administrator and Chief Officer, Alandi Municipal Council.
The five artificial ponds have been set up at the following locations:
Near Vaitageshwar Temple
Jhadi Bazar parking area
Y junction
Maharaj Math
Old Municipal Office
With these measures, the municipal council hopes to ensure that Alandi’s devotion to Ganpati Bappa remains as pure as its sacred river.
