Green Power Plan for Lalbaugcha Raja Ganesh Festival

Mumbai’s iconic Lalbaugcha Raja Ganpati festival is set to witness major eco-friendly initiatives this year. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is preparing to convert food and prasad waste generated at the mandal into renewable energy. During the festivities, around 8–10 tonnes of organic waste is expected to be generated daily. The waste from the community kitchen will be sent to biomethanation plants at Nair, Kasturba, GTB and Sion hospitals, with officials expecting to generate around 7,744 units of renewable electricity. The power will be used for lighting inpatient wards and corridors at the four hospitals.

For the first time, the BMC will also recycle plaster of Paris (PoP) Ganesh idols immersed in artificial immersion ponds, temporary tanks and other water bodies. The civic body is making arrangements to retrieve and recycle the idols within 24 hours of immersion, following directions from the Bombay High Court. The recycled material could potentially be reused in making idols, plasterboards, ceramics, bricks and as filler material in the cement industry. Lalbaugcha Raja, which has been celebrated at the Lalbaug market since 1934, attracts thousands of devotees as well as several film and political personalities every year.