24 September,2012 06:51 AM IST | | Priyanka Dhomse
Going the green way, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has added two artificial lakes to the city's existing 22 this year, making the final count 24. And families celebrating Ganpati followed in their footsteps, immersing their idols in these lakes and giving the natural ones a break.
File pic
Sarvajanik mandals, however, still have a long way to go towards eco-friendly worship, with most preferring natural immersion spots like the chowpatties at Dadar, Juhu and Girgaum this year.
BMC started witnessing a high number of immersions in artificial lakes on the second day of the festival itself, with about 7,470 families opting for them for visarjan.
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The two newly added artificial lakes in the city are located in Ghatkopar and Matunga.
Naresh Dahibavkar, president of Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvaya Samiti, said, "As people are going the eco-friendly way, we had anticipated that many would come and use artificial lakes.
There were about 45,000 eco-friendly idols which were placed in different houses across the city. All these families are likely to use the artificial lakes."
Kishor Kshirsagar, deputy municipal commissioner (Zone II) who is in charge of the immersions, said, "The response to the artificial lakes this year was very good and we are satisfied as our efforts have paid off. After receiving such a tremendous response we will surely think of increasing the number of artificial lakes next year."
12,496
Total number of idols immersed last year on the 11th day of the festival in 22 artificial lakesu00a0
