Mumbai: A massive clean-up of beaches and water bodies is set to begin today in Mumbai after ten days of celebrations marking the Ganesh festival ended yesterday with thousands of idols of the deity being immersed at designated spots across the city.
With over 125,000 idols being immersed yesterday, volunteers are now preparing to remove floral offerings and other debris that are expected to wash ashore in the following days.
The Congress party legislator from Vileparle, Krishna Hegde, said over 400 volunteers were ready to clean up Juhu beach, an annual initiative started by Priya Dutt, MP. Party workers, civic staff, several non-governmental organisations (NGOs), besides school and college students are expected to join in the drive.
"Every year we remove 60-70 truck loads of plastic bags and nirmalya [floral offerings] on the beach after the immersion," Hegde said.
Assurance to court
In Girgaum chowpatty, students are expected to join the ‘I Luv Mumbai' foundation of Shaina N.C. of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as part of the clean-up.
The times Green Ganesha campaign is partnering with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to spruce up the beaches.
Meanwhile, the city's Police Commissioner Sanjeev Dayal and Municipal Commissioner Swadheen Kshatriya have given their assurances to the Bombay High Court that Shivaji Park would be cleaned up and restored to its original state after being used as a parking area for vehicles during the immersion days. The civic chief has given an undertaking to the court that cricket pitches and the area where sprinklers have been installed would not be damaged. The high court had earlier restricted entry of vehicles inside the park following a public interest litigation filed by a trust.
