Navi Mumbai | September 10, 2026
The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation has created 170 artificial immersion ponds for Ganesh visarjan this year, asking residents to use the facilities to reduce pollution in natural water bodies during Ganeshotsav.
The civic body said idols up to six feet in height are expected to be immersed in artificial ponds in accordance with court directions. It has also appealed to organisers and residents to give preference to the artificial facilities for larger idols wherever possible.
According to the corporation, the number of artificial ponds has been increased from last year to make immersion facilities available closer to residential areas. The move is intended to reduce the concentration of crowds at traditional immersion locations and limit the impact of immersion activity on natural water sources.
The locations have been identified by the corporation’s administrative zones and engineering department. Construction and preparation work at the sites is in its final stage, the civic body said. The report did not specify the individual locations of all 170 ponds or provide a ward-wise breakdown.
The corporation has also said that Ganesh mandals will not be charged a fee for erecting festival pavilions. To simplify permissions, it has made an online, single-window e-service available for mandap approvals.
Navi Mumbai’s traditional immersion points typically draw large crowds during the festival. The artificial ponds are intended to distribute those crowds and provide an alternative for residents who would otherwise use natural water bodies. The civic administration has urged citizens to choose clay, or shadu, idols and other environmentally friendly options as part of the pollution-control measures.
Mayor Sujata Patil and Municipal Commissioner Dr Kailas Shinde appealed to residents to celebrate the festival while protecting the environment and to prioritise artificial ponds for immersion. The corporation’s immediate next step is to complete the remaining preparation work at the identified sites before immersion activities begin.
