Pune: PMC Records 6.77 Lakh Ganesh Idols Immersed or Collected During Ganeshotsav

Pune, 26th September 2026: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) recorded 677,057 Ganesh idols immersed or collected across its 15 ward offices between September 14 and 25, according to a note issued by its solid waste management department. The civic body also collected 715,059 kg of nirmalya, or floral and other ritual offerings, during the festival.

Of the total idols recorded, 109,479 were immersed in constructed immersion ponds and 394,349 in iron tanks. Another 173,229 idols were received at collection centres. The PMC said idols immersed in its ponds and tanks were subsequently taken to a quarry in Wagholi for re-immersion.

To discourage immersion in rivers and lakes, the civic body provided facilities at 38 ghats. These included 58 constructed ponds at 38 locations, 812 iron tanks at 305 locations and 224 idol-collection centres. It also set up 45 centres to collect clay idols or clay, and placed 358 containers for nirmalya at 267 locations.

The PMC reported collecting 918,537 kg of waste through its ward offices. Its note lists 546,354 kg of wet waste, 372,184 kg of dry waste, 18,910 kg of decoration material and 2,153 kg of footwear. The department said cleaning was continuing along procession routes and at artificial immersion ponds.

For festival arrangements, the PMC said it deployed 4,179 permanent sanitation workers, supported by 16 senior health inspectors, 161 health inspectors and 292 supervisors. It also made 1,670 vehicles available to ward offices. Public pay-and-use toilets were made free for residents and visitors from September 14 to 25, the PMC stated in a press release.