Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation is preparing 128 artificial lakes across the city’s nine wards for eco-friendly Ganesh idol immersion this year, alongside 18 mobile immersion tanks and arrangements for transport, safety, lighting and medical assistance.
The municipal administration announced the preparations on September 11, 2026, citing the strong response to artificial lakes during last year’s Ganeshotsav. The facilities are intended to provide residents with designated alternatives to immersing idols directly in natural water bodies.
The 128 artificial lakes will be distributed across all nine wards. In addition, the civic body plans to place two mobile immersion tanks in each ward, taking the total to 18. The municipal corporation has also arranged special vehicles to transport idols immersed in the artificial lakes for final disposal at closed stone quarries.
According to the municipal administration, 79 per cent of all idol immersions in Vasai-Virar last year took place in artificial lakes. The civic body is increasing the number of facilities this year to continue that pattern and expand access to designated immersion points across the city.
Facilities for the immersion of larger Ganesh idols have also been arranged at several jetties and quarry sites. These include Marambalpada, Killa Bandar, Naigaon, Pachubandar, Naringi, the Versova Creek jetty and Panju. Madhuban and Valaipada quarries have also been included in the arrangements.
The municipal corporation said immersion locations would have idol collection centres, medical assistance rooms, separate spaces for performing aarti, trained lifeguards, lighting and mandap facilities. The arrangements cover both the movement of idols and the safety of devotees visiting the designated sites.
The civic administration has been emphasising an environment-friendly Ganeshotsav in Vasai-Virar for the past two to three years. This year’s plan combines ward-level artificial lakes and mobile tanks for household and smaller idols with designated jetties and quarry locations for larger idols. The corporation’s stated objective is to manage immersion through planned facilities while maintaining safety and supporting the city’s environmentally focused festival arrangements.
