Mumbai Navratri visarjan: BMC identifies 34 natural water bodies, creates 158 artificial ponds

Mumbairsquos Navratri idol immersions are increasingly beginning to resemble Ganesh visarjans in terms of scale with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC ramping up arrangements across the city to manage the growing number of idols and ensure safe environmentally responsible immersionsThe civic body has identified 34 natural water bodies and set up 158 artificial immersion ponds at 60 locations across Mumbai At beaches 117 steel plates have been installed to facilitate visarjan The arrangements are aimed at ensuring a smooth immersion process while minimising the impact on the cityrsquos natural water bodiesManish Javanjal a BMC official in charge of Navratri immersion arrangements said ldquoOver the past four to five years we have observed an increase in the number of Navratri idols being installed across Mumbai Itrsquos feels like the scale of Navratri immersions is also gradually moving along the lines of Ganesh visarjan and the civic body has to make adequate arrangements to manage the increasing footfall and ensure safetyrdquoGrand arrangementsTo manage crowds and prevent drowning incidents the BMC will deploy 750 lifeguards and 30 motor boats The civic body has also established 68 control rooms to coordinate immersionrelated operations Sanitation arrangements include 170 mobile toilets and 100 dumpers to manage waste generated during the festivitiesIn a push towards sustainable celebrations the BMC plans to retrieve all immersed idols within 24 hours of visarjan ldquoThe solid waste management department will assist in collecting the idols and transporting them for recyclingrdquo said JavanjalMeasures in numbers34 natural water bodies68 control rooms30 motor boats158 artificial ponds at 60 different locations across the city117 steel plates at beaches for visarjan750 lifeguards170 mobile toilets