Akola: With Akola receiving around 64% of its expected monsoon rainfall and several water bodies at critically low levels, the district administration has appealed to major public Ganesh mandals to reconsider immersing large idols, many of which are over 15ft tall.The appeal comes ahead of Ganesh idol immersion on Sept 25. Akola has experienced a prolonged dry spell of nearly 50 days, affecting kharif crops and putting pressure on available water resources. Morna river, one of the major immersion points in the city, has very little water.“Wherever possible, the idols can be preserved safely and immersed later when adequate water becomes available,” Akola district collector Varsha Meena said.The appeal has already prompted some mandals in Akola to opt for preservation of their large idols.Advocate Moti Singh Mohna, president of the Public Ganesh Immersion Procession Committee, urged Ganesh mandals to avoid immersing large idols in water bodies with inadequate water levels.“Immersing large idols in shallow water can create logistical difficulties and may affect both the idol and the water body. Given the prevailing shortage, mandals should consider preserving large idols instead,” he said.Vishwakarma Ganesh Mandal in Akola has followed a similar practice for nearly four decades. Its president, Raju Sonadikar, said the mandal installs a large idol but does not immerse it at the end of the festival.“We have been preserving the large Ganesh idol for the last 37 years. After the festival, it is kept safely and, before the next Ganesh festival, the idol is repainted and refurbished before being installed again,” Sonadikar said.He said only the smaller idol used for regular worship is immersed.“Considering the current water crisis, we appeal to other mandals to adopt a similar approach. If a mandal does not have adequate space to keep its large idol safely, we are willing to explore the possibility of keeping such idols in our storage facility at our farm,” he said.Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Ganesh Mandal in Deshmukh Peth has also decided against immersing its approximately 15ft idol this year. Mandal office-bearer Rahul said they would preserve the idol and refurbish it for installation next year.The situation in Akola highlights an unusual intersection of religious tradition and conservation. While household and smaller idols can be immersed in designated tanks, water scarcity has prompted organisers of large public idols to consider preserving them instead. Authorities hope the move will ease pressure on rivers, ponds and other water bodies.
