MMC Commissioner promises to look into malpractices taking place during Ganesh idol immersion !

Mumbai : Shri. Ajoy Mehta, Commissioner of Mumbai Municipal Corporation (MMC) promised activists of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) that he would look into the malpractices taking place during immersion of Shri Ganesh idols; taking note of the important information and demands submitted through a petition. He was surprised to know that neither donation of idols nor immersion in artificial water tanks helped to stop pollution besides causing ‘Dharmahani’ and assured that MMC would take necessary action.

Sanatan Sanstha and HJS have been creating awareness amongst people for many years to prevent desecration of Ganesh idols. Their members go to the places where idols are immersed and create awareness amongst Ganesh-devotees. MMC Commissioner was pleased to know this and commended HJS activities; promising to extend cooperation. Shri. Prakash Gangadhare, President of MMC’s ‘Sudhar Samiti’, Shri. Shivaji Vatkar, Coordinator of HJS, Shri. Satish Sonar, its member and Shri. Maruti More, its reporter were present on the occasion.

It has been stated in the petition submitted by HJS that ….        

MMC and fake environmentalists totally ignore serious harm caused to environment throughout the year as stated above and claim that ‘Ganeshotsav’ only caused pollution; although the Pollution Control Board has reported that immersion of idols did not cause pollution. Still, they are opposing to traditional way of immersing Ganesh idols in flowing water. At many places, devotees are forced to donate idols or immerse idols in artificial water tanks erected by spending millions of rupees. Later the same idols are thrown in dirty stone quarries or unused wells or holes besides carrying them in MMC’s garbage vans used for carrying solid waste. Such things cause desecration of Ganesh idols and hurt religious sentiments of Hindus.

As per the information obtained under RTI, many times, devotees give idols to environmentalist organizations or contractors but no process has yet been devised by any Municipality or Corporation to prevent denigration of idols. In fact, it has been exposed by media that at places like Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Kolhapur etc. idols were dumped like garbage or thrown in quarries causing grave denigration of idols. It is a very serious matter and an attack on religious freedom of Hindus.

Donation of idols or immersion in artificial water tanks does not at all protect environment; therefore, balance needs to be maintained between the two for creating new system; e.g. one of the suggestions given by Central Pollution Control Board in June 2010 that in a natural water body, a holed stone-wall can be erected and in such part, idols can be immersed. It is however, requested that in conformity with Dharmashastra, idols should be immersed in sea, river or flowing water instead of donation or immersion in artificial water tanks.  

Shri. Prakash Gangadhare, President of Municipal Corporation’s ‘Sudhar Samiti’ writes to MMC Commissioner !

Request to see that Ganesh idols are not denigrated !

HJS submitted a petition to Shri. Gangadhare, for prevention of ‘Dharmahani’ and denigration of idols during immersion; who in turn, wrote to the Commissioner, requesting to take note of HJS representation. He also accompanied HJS delegation and had discussions with the Commissioner suggesting that MMC should try to stop ‘Dharmahani’; considering sentiments of Ganesh-devotees.

Source : Dainik Sanatan Prabhat