KOLHAPUR: The citizens donated over 20,000 Ganesh idols by Monday evening, continuing the tradition of immersing the idols. The number is likely to go up further.The Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC) had set up idol donation centres as well as kunds for immersion at several places in each of the four wards of the city. The response by the citizens to donate idols instead of immersing in Panchaganga river and Rankala lake was immense. Since the last few years, the donation of the idols is increasing owing to the increase in the awareness among the citizens regarding celebrating the festival in an eco-friendly manner.While some of the citizens immersed their idols in the river. Those were, however, made up of clay and other eco-friendly material which does not cause pollution. The KMC was assisted by a forum named Panchaganga Ghat Sanvardhan Samiti and Ekati, an organisation of women ragpickers. Ekati organisation collected three tonnes of nirmalya (flower offerings) which will be converted into manure. The manure prepared from the last year's nirmalya donated to the organisation was kept for selling at Panchaganga Ghat."Large number of idols were immersed in the kunds and several were donated. The process continues till midnight and we expect the number of idols donated this year will be higher than last year," said a civic official.As per the Bombay high court order, the immersion of idols in the river is totally banned. "However, we cannot question the sentiment of the people resorting to immersion in the river. Also, it is our responsibility to ensure that the facility for donation of idols and their immersion in the kunds is made available to the citizens. We expect in next few years, almost all the citizens will donate their idols," said the official requesting anonymity.

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