Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation has prepared 128 artificial lakes across the city’s nine wards for idol immersion during this year’s Ganeshotsav, alongside 18 mobile immersion tanks and facilities at several larger immersion points, according to a report by Loksatta – Vasai-Virar published on September 11, 2026.
The civic administration said the arrangements are intended to support environmentally friendly immersion of Ganesh idols while providing residents with safer and more accessible facilities. The plan includes artificial lakes, mobile tanks, idol transport arrangements, lighting, mandap facilities and security measures at designated locations.
The number of artificial lakes has been increased after residents reportedly responded positively to the facilities last year. The municipal corporation has been promoting environmentally friendly Ganeshotsav arrangements in Vasai-Virar for the past two to three years. According to the report, 79 per cent of all idol immersions in the city last year took place in artificial lakes.
Under this year’s plan, each of the nine municipal wards will receive two mobile immersion tanks, creating a total of 18 such units. The civic body also plans to arrange special vehicles to transport idols immersed in the artificial lakes for safe final disposal at closed quarry sites.
Facilities for larger Ganesh idols are being provided at a number of jetties and quarry locations. These include Marambalpada, Killa Bandar, Naigaon, Pachubandar, Naringi, the Versova Creek jetty and Panju. Madhuban and Valaip pada quarry sites have also been identified for immersion-related arrangements, according to the report.
The designated immersion locations will include idol collection centres, medical assistance rooms, separate spaces for performing aarti, trained lifeguards, lighting and mandap facilities. The arrangements are intended to reduce pressure on natural water bodies while ensuring that residents have access to supervised immersion points within the municipal area.
The civic administration’s plan places artificial lakes at the centre of the city’s immersion infrastructure. The reported 79 per cent share of immersions handled through such facilities last year is the basis cited for expanding the network this year. The corporation has not, in the supplied report, provided ward-wise figures for the 128 artificial lakes, operational dates for each facility or details of the total number of idols expected to be handled.
The arrangements will cover both household and larger community idols through separate facilities, including mobile tanks, artificial lakes, jetties and quarry sites. The municipal corporation’s next operational step is to make these immersion facilities available during the Ganeshotsav period, with lighting, safety personnel, medical assistance and collection arrangements in place at the designated locations.
