Green initiative: NMC to lift‘nirmalya’ from your doorstep

Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is leaving no stone unturned to make this year’s Ganeshutsav a greener one. The civic body has decided to start door-to-door collection of ‘nirmalya’ (flower offerings to the deity) and reduce them to compost at its plant in Bhandewadi.
In 2019, the NMC had collected around 150 metric tonnes of ‘nirmalya’ from across the city. With no restrictions this year, it is expecting it to get doubled with generation of around 300 metric tonnes of ‘nirmalya’. Considering the religious importance of ‘nirmalya’ in Ganeshotsav, the NMC will deploy one vehicle each in 10 zones for doorstep ‘nirmalya’ collection, said deputy municipal commissioner (solid waste management) Dr Gajendra Mahalle.
The garbage lifting firms — AG Enviro and BVG India — have spared five vehicles each and officiating municipal commissioner and collector Dr Vipin Itankar flagged off the ‘nirmalya’ collection vehicles.
Meanwhile, as many 230 mandals across the city will be installing more than 4 feet tall Ganesh idols this year.This was revealed during review of the applications received at the NMC’s single window system started to facilitate permission for mandals in 10 zonal offices.
As per the data procured from all 10 zones (till August 30), the NMC has received as many 552 applications, while 279 were granted permission. “Representatives of 230 mandals have informed the NMC that they would be installing over 4 feet tall idols, while 132 have mentioned that they would install idols having less than four feet height,” said deputy municipal commissioner Dr Gajendra Mahalle.
The NMC has urged Ganesh mandals to go for smaller idols as it has banned immersion in city’s water bodies. In a bid to streamline immersion of smaller idols, the civic body has increased the number of artificial tanks by 25% this year.
Of the 230 mandals installing bigger idols, maximum number of applications are from Gandhibagh zone. “Of the 89 applications from this zone, 54 mandals have informed the NMC that they would install over four feet tall idols,” he said.
It is followed by 36 and 30 mandals from Dharampeth and Laxmi Nagar zones, while 27 and 24 mandals from Hanuman Nagar and Lakadganj zones too have confirmed they would be installing bigger idols.