2. Every year thousands of
Ganesha Idols are purchased
for the occasion of Ganesha
Chaturthi
Celebrated all over the
country, especially in Mumbai
and elsewhere in western
and southern India, the
festival starts with the
installation of new Ganesh
idols, in homes and outdoors.
3. After the festival, it was returned back to the Earth by immersing it in a
nearby water body. This cycle was meant to represent the cycle of
creation and dissolution in Nature.
4. The most serious impact of the festival on the environment is due to
the immersion of idols made of Plaster of Paris into lakes, rivers and
the sea. Traditionally, the idol was sculpted out of mud taken from
nearby one’s home.
5.
6. 'Sat Visarjan Rath'
• A joint initiative by a private company and Rotary Club of
Baroda Cosmopolitan (RCBC) is gaining momentum among
environment conscious citizens.
• RCBC along with Conmat has launched a project wherein
devotees can immerse Ganesha idols in fresh water in huge
tanks installed by them near two lakes.
• What makes the project unique is that after immersion of
idols, the water is taken to treatment plant for purification.
And, the organizers are now planning to make separate
section in some big lakes where idols can be immersed and
the water treated later.
7. Process
• The water tanks called 'Sat Visarjan Rath' are mobile and
can be shifted from one place to other.
• The water tanks are sent to a treatment plant in Nandesari
Industrial Association for purification under the supervision
of Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB). The water and
solid parts including PoP are separated and the treated
water is then discharged into lakes or river.
• In the first year, about 300 Ganesh idols were immersed in
the two tanks and the numbers rose to 500 idols last year.
• Encouraged by the success of this project, the organizers
are now planning to go big.
8. STRENGTH
WEAKNESS
Innovative and effective water cleaning A need for a better technology and
strategy.
awareness programmes.
SWOT
THREAT
OPPORTUNITIES
Religious sentiments of people
50% reduction in water pollution
