Archive · 24 Sep 2026
BMC Delays Scientific Disposal Plan For Ganpati Remains
Ganeshotsav has ended with the final day of idol immersions in Mumbai.
The BMC collects the remains of the idols after they are immersed.
It has not yet chosen the best scientific way to process these remains.
The court suggested using chemicals to break down plaster-of-Paris waste or using a heating process called calcination.
For now, the remains will be kept at a storage site in Mulund.
More than 1,835 metric tonnes have been collected this year.
The storage site also contains about 2,500 metric tonnes from earlier festivals.
The BMC is still waiting for companies to offer a workable processing solution.
The BMC has not finalised an environmentally friendly process for disposing of immersed Ganpati idol remains.
The Bombay High Court-approved options include chemical biological disintegration or wet and dry calcination of plaster-of-Paris waste.
More than 1,835 metric tonnes of remains retrieved this year will be stored temporarily at the Mulund Dumping Ground plot.
The site already holds about 2,500 metric tonnes of remains collected from last year’s Ganpati and Navratri festivals.
The BMC’s Expression of Interest for scientific-processing companies remains open until September 29, while final-day immersions continue.
- Who
- The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and companies being considered for scientific processing.
- What
- The BMC has yet to finalise a scientific disposal or recycling process for immersed Ganpati idol remains.
- When
- The decision remains pending as Ganeshotsav concludes; the BMC’s Expression of Interest ends on September 29.
- Where
- Mumbai; remains are being transported to the Mulund Dumping Ground plot for temporary storage.
- Why
- The BMC must follow the Bombay High Court’s direction to dispose of idol remains through an environmentally friendly process.
- Remains collected this year
- More than 1,835 metric tonnes
- Previously stored remains
- About 2,500 metric tonnes from last year’s Ganpati and Navratri festivals
- Temporary storage site
- Mulund Dumping Ground plot
- Proposed processing methods
- Chemical biological disintegration or wet and dry calcination
- Expression of Interest deadline
- September 29
- Natural immersion sites
- 67 across Mumbai
- Artificial ponds
- 358 across Mumbai