Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Thane Immersion Numbers Raise Questions Over Eco-Friendly Facilities
During Ganeshotsav, people immerse idols in water after celebrations.
In Thane, many more idols went into the creek than into the city’s artificial lake.
Only 88 idols used the artificial lake, while 525 used the creek ghat.
This suggests that many devotees prefer natural water bodies.
Environmental experts worry that this could create pollution if waste is not managed properly.
They say artificial lakes should still be available.
They also want permanent and carefully designed facilities near the creek.
City officials reported 20,703 total immersions, but it is unclear whether all creek immersions were counted.
Experts want clearer data and more environmentally safe arrangements.
Only 88 Ganesh idols were immersed at the artificial lake near Ashtavinayak Chowk in Kopri.
A total of 525 idols were immersed at the Thane Creek ghat near Chendani Koliwada Port.
Thane Municipal Corporation reported 20,703 immersions, including 9,600 clay and 11,103 plaster of Paris idols.
Environmentalists questioned whether direct creek immersions were included in the municipal figures and how idol materials were classified.
Experts urged permanent, scientifically designed immersion facilities along the creek alongside improved post-immersion waste management.
- Who
- Thane devotees, the Thane Municipal Corporation, and environmental experts including Dr. Prashant Sinkar.
- What
- Ganesh idol immersion figures showed 88 immersions at an artificial lake compared with 525 at a creek ghat, prompting concerns about eco-friendly arrangements and municipal data.
- When
- September 17; the article does not specify the year.
- Where
- The artificial lake near Ashtavinayak Chowk in Kopri and the Thane Creek ghat near Chendani Koliwada Port, in Thane.
- Why
- The figures suggest a preference for natural water bodies and raised questions about waste management, permanent immersion facilities, and whether civic statistics include direct creek immersions.
Environmental experts and advocates
Civic authorities and existing arrangements
Where immersions should occur
Environmental experts and advocates
Experts say the city should provide permanent, scientifically engineered facilities along the creek for devotees who prefer natural water bodies, while retaining artificial lakes as an option.
Civic authorities and existing arrangements
The city has provided artificial lakes, iron tanks, and collection centres, but the article does not state a specific civic response to the call for permanent creek facilities.
Reliability of immersion figures
Environmental experts and advocates
Environmentalists question whether the reported 20,703 immersions include direct creek immersions and how idol materials were classified using local data.
Civic authorities and existing arrangements
The Pollution Control Department said the figures were supplied by ward-level Assistant Commissioners.
Environmental priorities
Environmental experts and advocates
Experts stress that post-immersion waste management is essential and that policies should reflect devotees’ actual preferences.
Civic authorities and existing arrangements
Existing artificial immersion infrastructure remains available as an eco-friendly alternative, although it was comparatively underused.
- Artificial-lake immersions
- 88 idols were immersed near Ashtavinayak Chowk in Kopri.
- Creek-ghat immersions
- 525 idols were immersed at the Thane Creek ghat near Chendani Koliwada Port.
- Reported total immersions
- The Thane Municipal Corporation reported 20,703 immersions.
- Clay idols
- The municipal report listed 9,600 clay, or shadu mati, idols.
- Plaster-of-Paris idols
- The municipal report listed 11,103 plaster of Paris idols.
- Data concern
- Environmentalists said it was unclear whether direct creek immersions were included in the reported total.
- Proposed solution
- Advocates called for permanent, scientifically designed immersion facilities along the creek.