‘Nirmalya To Nisarga’: 107 Tons Offerings Collected During Ganpati Festival In Pune
Pune, 22nd September 2021: Nirmalya to Nisarga, a collaborative initiative of PMC, SWaCH Pune and Cummins India collected 107 tons of votive offerings during Ganpati Festival 2021. Punekars participated with great enthusiasm to mark yet another successful year for the initiative that aims to preserve the culture and nature of the city. Collected Nirmalya will be composted and given to farmers for free.
From the last 11 years, SWaCH waste pickers, with the help of PMC, have established the system of segregated collection of Nirmalya. The system has reduced the quantum of votive offerings thrown at the riverside significantly. Waste pickers once again achieved resounding success in preserving the environment of the city while respecting the religious sentiments of citizens.
“It is essential to segregate compostable Nirmalya at source as it is highly compostable. Like every year, citizens kept it separate and also handed it over separately to SWaCH waste pickers during the special collection drives of Nirmalya to Nisarga organized on 12th, 15th and 20th September. This small yet important habit has enabled composting of Nirmalya at a city scale. The collaboration between PMC and SWaCH has gained Pune an identity of a city that blends festival and environment together”, said Alok Gogate, Operations Head, SWaCH Pune.
Vidya Naiknawre, SWaCH waste picker representative from Dhankawadi said, “We have been collecting Nirmlya from door to door since last year. Citizens respond to this initiative enthusiastically every year. We request citizens not to dispose Nirmalya at riverside and encourage them to give it to us instead. Through every initiative we aim to foster our commitment to citizens and strengthen Pune’s waste management”.
SWaCH waste pickers used to collect Nirmalya at river front for the last 11 years. But since last year, due to the pandemic they collected Nirmalya from door to door across the city. Collected Nirmalya was transferred to PMC vehicles for further processing. Cummins India facilitated waste pickers with bags for collection.
