Responding with great enthusiasm to the Nashik Municipal Commissioner's appeal for eco-friendly immersion, the people of Nashik immersed more than 1.40 lakh idols on the occasion of Anant Chaturdashi, sources said.
"Altogether, around 1,40,541 Ganesh idols were immersed in an eco-friendly manner in Nashik this year, as a result of the initiative by Nashik Municipal Commissioner Sanjay Khandare," an official said.
This year, 57 tonnes of 'nirmalya' (used prayer material) was also collected as part of the eco-friendly immersion process.
Non-governmental organisations had joined hands with the Nashik Municipal Corporation before the Ganesh festival to create an awareness about eco-friendly celebrations and immersions.
The number of artificial ponds was increased and devotees also preferred 'shadu' (clay) idols and natural colours. Immersions were carried out in 53 spots, including 28 artificial ponds.
Officials of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), which Khandare had headed earlier, collected samples from various sites to check pollution levels post-immersion.
