The Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation has banned Ganesh idol immersion, nirmalya disposal and ash dumping at the Regency Antilia ghat on the banks of the Ulhas River after residents raised concerns about possible contamination near water-lifting facilities. The order has also intensified an ongoing political dispute between the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party in Ulhasnagar.
Additional Municipal Commissioner Dr Dheeraj Chavan issued the order on 21 September 2026, stating that idol immersion was being carried out at the site without authorisation. The civic body has directed residents to use the artificial lake in the Century area for immersion instead.
Residents of the Regency Antilia complex, including those living in the Camellia and Avana buildings, had submitted written representations to the municipal commissioner and Mayor Ashwini Nikam opposing immersion at the ghat. They said the area was close to both a municipal water-lifting centre and a water-lifting facility serving the buildings.
According to the residents’ representation, plaster of Paris idols, chemical paints and nirmalya could contaminate the water source and create health risks. The mayor subsequently instructed the civic administration to take immediate action, leading to the ban announced by the municipal corporation.
The decision comes after a heated discussion in the municipal general body meeting during September over a proposal to grant the ghat the status of a tourist destination. The dispute has exposed differences between the ruling Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the BJP over the project and its proposed use.
Opposition members and local Shiv Sena leaders have alleged that the ghat project involved a scam worth several crores of rupees. The concerned local legislators have rejected the allegations and countered that residents are being used for political purposes. The supplied report does not provide details of any investigation, financial audit or formal finding establishing the allegations.
The municipal order currently prohibits immersion and the disposal of related material at the Regency Antilia site. Residents have been directed to use the Century-area artificial lake, while the civic administration’s next steps will determine how the ban is enforced during the ongoing immersion period.
