PMC to train 5,000 students in making ecofriendly Ganesh idols

Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has planned to train 5,000 students in making ecofriendly Ganesh idols as part of the 125th year of Ganeshotsav celebrations in the city.

PMC standing committee chairman Murlidhar Mohol and leader of house in PMC Srinath Bhimale announced the scheme to train the students during a workshop on making Ganesh idols at Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay School in Kothrud. The workshop was organised by Bhartiya Janata Party’s member from Kothrud area Manjushree Khardekar.

Mohol and Bhimale said that it would be a good thing if people made their own Ganesh idols for the festival. It had many benefits like reducing pollution in the river, they added.

As many Ganesh idols are made of plaster of paris and lead-based colours, they pollute water bodies after immersion to a large extent.

Also, homemade Ganesh idols were eco-friendly as they were made from local mud called ‘shadu matti’. There would be an emotional attachment with Lord Ganesh when you make you own idol, the leaders pointed out.

By considering all the benefits, PMC will promote this movement in the city and will train more than 5,000 students in making ecofriendly Ganesh idols, they said. PMC will also try bringing all these students together while making the idols which will also be a record, said Bhimale. Creative foundations president Sandeep Khardekar was also present for the event. 

Raj Tamboli, Anuradaha Phadke and Kanyakumari Ghadge trained the students in making ecofriendly Ganesh idols.