HYDERABAD: As retrieval work continues in the Hussainsagar, the MCH is trying to draw lessons from the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) on clean-up and sanitation work during Ganesh festivities each year.

Unlike the MCH, which does only cleaning of roads and lifts accumulated garbage during the nine-day festival and immersion procession, the MCGM makes a complete blueprint solid waste management with precise detailing on where and how Ganesh idols are immersed, besides sanitation. Commissioner Sanjay Jaju dispatched a two-member team, consisting of K. Rajiv Babu, Deputy Executive Engineer, and A. Aswini Kumar, Executive Engineer, to Mumbai to study arrangements for immersion of idols.

The officials interacted with the MCGM Chief Engineer for solid waste management.

Control rooms

They found that the corporation had set up control rooms, lifeboats, first-aid centres, ambulances, floodlights, mobile toilets and watchtowers at the beaches.

There were 59 immersion points, of which 14 were small ponds and rest on the seashore. Interesting aspect at each immersion point was that the MCGM deployed separate bins for recyclable and biodegradable bins.

Two workers are placed at each bin for receiving and segregating waste.

Floral offerings are put in a huge `kalash' so as to safeguard religious sentiments and transported to the nearest compost centres. Recyclables and other material are moved towards the designated landfill sites, thus preventing any material to float on water as only bare idols are immersed.

While no retrieval of debris is done from the sea, the lakes and ponds are cleaned in April/May. The MCGM brings out booklets giving a city map showing immersion points, traffic routes and hygiene instructions on preparation of `prasad,' etc. Incidentally, permissions for setting up pandals should be taken from both police and MCGM.

Special permission

Designated trucks will collect segregated waste from pandals during all days but maintaining cleanliness around each pandal and levelling of potholes nearby is organisers' job.

They should provide fire extinguishers, sand buckets and adequate water. Registration with the Fire Department is a must. The idols are permitted to be 18 ft high and pandal 30 ft. For anything above it, special permission has to be taken for structural stability.

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