Nagpur: A modest eco-friendly initiative started in 2012 has evolved into a citywide exercise to protect Nagpur’s lakes, with Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) planning to install 447 artificial immersion tanks at 225 locations this year for Ganeshotsav. The civic body will deploy 998 personnel to ensure smooth immersion arrangements. The facilities will be available from Sept 14 to prevent Hartalika immersion in waterbodies.The initiative, which has been expanded over the years, reflects NMC’s continued efforts to encourage environment-friendly Ganeshotsav celebrations. The civic body has maintained its policy of restricting idol immersion in natural waterbodies and providing alternative facilities for devotees, deputy municipal commissioner Rajesh Bhagat told TOI.“According to the zone-wise plan for 2026, the artificial immersion facilities will be spread across all 10 NMC zones. The arrangements include 375 centring tanks, 27 rubber tanks, 17 pit tanks, six concrete tanks and 22 mobile immersion tanks. The total comes to 447 tanks, providing citizens with multiple options for immersing idols close to their neighbourhoods,” he said.The early availability of tanks is particularly aimed at preventing immersion of Hartalika idols in lakes and other waterbodies. NMC plans to install the facilities near waterbodies from Sept 14, allowing devotees to use designated tanks right from the beginning of the festival season.For larger idols, the civic body has identified five permanent immersion facilities at Kacchivisa (Lakadganj), Gorewada, the tank near Police Line Takli, Sonegaon Lake and Koradi Lake. These facilities will cater to bigger idols that cannot be accommodated in smaller artificial tanks.NMC’s artificial immersion tank initiative has been progressively expanded since its early years. In 2013, the civic body prepared 125 artificial plastic tanks and barred immersion of Plaster of Paris idols in rivers and lakes as part of its environmental protection measures.The civic body’s 2026 arrangements are expected to make immersion more convenient through a combination of permanent, temporary and mobile facilities. The deployment of nearly 1,000 personnel will help manage crowd movement, assist devotees and maintain cleanliness at immersion locations.NMC officials will also focus on collecting ‘nirmalya’ and preventing puja material from entering lakes. The civic body’s approach is to ensure that religious traditions continue while protecting the city’s natural water resources.INFOBOXZone—Artificial tanksLaxmi Nagar—41Dharampeth—69Hanuman Nagar—55Dhantoli—31Nehru Nagar—47Gandhibagh—69Satranjipura—28Lakadganj—40Ashi Nagar—23Mangalwari—40
