Pune: PMC Likely To End Mobile Immersion Tanks Amid Low Usage and Public Criticism
Pune: PMC Likely To End Mobile Immersion Tanks Amid Low Usage and Public Criticism
14/August/2024
The Pune Municipal Corporation is likely to reconsider the use of mobile immersion tanks for this Ganeshotsav after the initiative faced significant criticism and did not garner the expected response last year. The project was initiated to facilitate the mobile immersion of Ganesh idols during the Covid pandemic lockdown but continued even after all restrictions were lifted.
Civic activists raised concerns about the continuation of the project, arguing that it was no longer necessary.
“All Covid restrictions have been lifted. People now visit proper tanks or water bodies to immerse the idol. Additionally, the response to these mobile immersion tanks has been poor, with only about 10% of people utilizing the service. The administration is wasting a substantial amount of taxpayers’ money on this project,” a civic activist stated.
According to PMC officials, these mobile immersion tanks visited various residential areas to allow devotees to immerse their idols. “The civic body, through this initiative, also aimed to promote eco-friendly immersion,” a civic official stated.
Last year, despite opposition, the civic body introduced 150 mobile immersion tanks. “Each ward office is equipped with mobile tanks. Nearly 26,000 devotees utilized the mobile tank service last year,” the official added.
The civic body has arranged 42 concrete water tanks and 568 iron tanks at 265 locations, along with 252 idol donation centers.
