BENGALURU: Ganesha festivities in the city have started with a positive note when it comes to protecting water bodies. According to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), which is overseeing the Ganesha idol immersion activities, the number of Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols have come down with more people going for clay and other eco-friendly idols.A senior official from BBMP said at Yediyur lake in south Bengaluru, which is a major location for immersing idols, the number of PoP Ganeshas on the first day of the festivities on Thursday, has drastically reduced this time. “Only 6,000 of the total 52,009 idols immersed at Yediyur lake on Thursday were PoP ones. However, we have to wait and see whether the same trend continues for the coming days,” he added.In order to facilitate immersion of Ganesha idols, the BBMP has made elaborate arrangements of kalyanis aka artificial tanks near 22 lakes in the city. Lakes with immersion facilities are Yediyur lake, Kaikondanahalli lake, Doddakanenahalli kere, Kasavanahalli lake, Devarabeesanahalli lake, Munnekolalu Kere, Dorekere, Singasandra lake, Herohalli lake, Mallathahalli lake, Ullala lake, Dasarahalli (Chokkasandra lake), Sankey Tank, Ulsoor lake, Kogilu lake, Jakkur lake (Sampigehalli lake), Rachenahalli lake, Palanahalli lake, Yelahanka Kere, Attur lake, Allasandra lake and Doddabommasandra lake.For devotees in residential areas which are away from the above said lakes, mobile tankers and artificial tanks have been set up for Ganesha immersion by BBMP as well as the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board. Such arrangements are to ensure that idols, especially PoP ones don’t land randomly in water bodies in turn polluting them.

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