Pune: PMC Facilitated Immersion of Over 6.7 Lakh Ganesh Idols, Collected 118 Tons of Waste During Ganeshotsav 2026

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) made arrangements across the city for Ganesh idol immersion and collection of nirmalya during Ganeshotsav 2026, with 38 immersion ghats and 224 idol collection centers among the facilities provided.

The arrangements were made by the PMC Solid Waste Management Department for the period from September 14 to September 25.

Citizens were appealed not to immerse Ganesh idols in rivers and ponds and instead use the facilities provided by the civic body.

Across the PMC’s 15 ward offices, 58 constructed immersion tanks and 305 iron tanks were provided at 38 locations. The civic body also set up 224 centres for the collection of Ganesh idols.

Another 85 centres were created for collecting shadu clay and idols made from shadu clay. Arrangements were also made for the reuse of idols collected in constructed and iron tanks, with storage facilities provided at suitable locations.

For nirmalya generated during the festival, 358 nirmalya kalash or containers were placed at 267 locations.

PMC deputed 16 senior health inspectors, 161 health inspectors, 292 mukadams and 4,177 sanitation workers for the Ganeshotsav arrangements. A total 1,670 vehicles were also provided according to requirements from the 15 ward offices.

Public toilets across the city were available free of charge to citizens and visitors between September 14 and September 25. Contractors concerned were instructed not to collect any fee during this period.

PMC said cleanliness work was carried out daily at public places, roads, open plots, river ghats, immersion locations and around public Ganesh mandals. Sanitation workers were also deployed as required for cleaning immersion procession routes.

Ganeshotsav 2026 in numbers

Some of the interesting figures recorded across PMC’s 15 ward offices between September 14 and September 25 include:

• 6,77,077 Ganesh idols were immersed or collected through PMC’s arrangements.
• 1,00,849 idols were immersed in constructed tanks.
• 3,94,349 idols were immersed in iron tanks.
• 1,81,879 idols were collected at designated centres.
• 1,18,537 kg of waste was collected during the period.
• This included 54,635 kg of wet waste, 37,184 kg of dry waste, 18,910 kg of decoration material and 7,813 kg of slippers and shoes.

The arrangements were carried out through PMC’s 15 ward offices as part of the Solid Waste Management Department’s Ganeshotsav 2026 planning.