Mumbai Implements Eco-Friendly Measures for Ganesh Chaturthi 2025

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has initiated a comprehensive plan to ensure that the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in 2025 are both safe and environmentally sustainable. This year, the BMC has established over 275 artificial ponds throughout Mumbai specifically for idol immersion, urging residents to utilize these facilities to promote eco-friendly practices during the festivities.

In addition to providing these immersion sites, the BMC is also advocating for home-based immersion methods using containers, as well as community arrangements for smaller idols. This initiative is aimed at minimizing the environmental impact traditionally associated with the festival.

To support the creation of sustainable idols, the civic body has distributed more than 990 tonnes of shadu (clay) free of charge to sculptors across the city. This move is part of a larger effort to encourage artists to produce idols that are less harmful to the environment. Furthermore, the BMC has allocated free space for over 1,025 sculptors to set up their pandals, allowing them to focus on artistic expression without the burden of logistical challenges.

In a pioneering effort, the BMC has also provided 10,800 litres of natural colours, including 7,800 litres of eco-friendly paint and 3,000 litres of eco-primer, on a trial basis. Sculptors are encouraged to use these materials for painting Ganpati idols, significantly reducing water pollution during the immersion process.

Training and Online Initiatives Enhance Safety

To ensure the smooth conduct of the celebrations, public Ganesh mandal volunteers have undergone emergency management training. More than 1,000 volunteers have received instruction in crowd management, disaster preparedness, and first-aid techniques, including practical demonstrations to effectively handle potential emergencies.

Additionally, the BMC has launched a single-window online permission system for mandals to facilitate the approval process for pandals. Since the introduction of this portal on July 21, 2025, over 1,150 mandals have successfully received their necessary permits.

The BMC has also implemented a system for the collection and segregation of nirmalya (floral offerings) to promote responsible waste management. The initiative includes separating compostable materials from non-compostable ones, and the civic body is appealing to residents to cooperate with waste management teams during the festivities.

Under the leadership of Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani and Additional Commissioner Dr. Amit Saini, the BMC is committed to adhering to court orders, guidelines from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and state directives to ensure that Ganesh Chaturthi 2025 is celebrated in an eco-friendly manner.

The BMC has called upon all residents to actively participate in the preservation of natural resources throughout the festival, aiming to make Ganesh Chaturthi 2025 a model for sustainable celebrations. The initiative reflects a growing awareness of environmental issues and a collective responsibility towards safeguarding Mumbai’s ecological integrity.