Delhi Sets Up 110 Collection Centres and 81 Artificial Ponds for Ganesh Visarjan

New Delhi: The Delhi government has announced special arrangements for the collection and disposal of old or damaged religious idols and puja material during the festival season. Under the initiative, 110 collection centres are being established at identified locations across the national capital.

The designated collection points, referred to as “Visarjan Patras”, will provide residents with an organised option to deposit old or damaged idols and other religious material instead of leaving them under trees, in parks, along roadsides or at other public places. The government said the collected material will be handled through an organised processing and recycling system.

Religious Material to Be Collected

According to the government, the collection centres will accept items such as damaged idols and framed religious pictures, calendars, puja chowkis, broken diyas, earthen lamps, flowers, garlands, cotton wicks, paper decorations and other puja material. Collection centres are being established at suitable locations, including some sites near temples.

81 Artificial Ponds for Ganesh Visarjan

Alongside the collection centres, the Delhi government has prepared 81 artificial immersion ponds across the capital for Ganesh idol immersion. The arrangements have been coordinated across all 13 revenue districts.

Officials said the designated immersion sites will have arrangements for security, sanitation, lighting, medical assistance, emergency response and traffic management. Plans have also been made to remove idol remains and other material after the immersion and clean the designated sites.

Appeal to Use Designated Immersion Sites

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has appealed to devotees to use the designated artificial immersion sites and avoid immersing idols in the Yamuna and other water bodies. The government has also encouraged people to choose eco-friendly idols and avoid Plaster of Paris, harmful chemical colours and decorative materials that could contribute to water pollution.

The initiative is aimed at providing residents with designated options for handling old religious material and conducting idol immersion while reducing the disposal of idols and puja items in public spaces and natural water bodies.