Agra. In a bid to keep the Yamuna River clean after the Ganpati festivities, the Agra Municipal Corporation has organized four provisional immersion tanks for Ganesh idols.
The designated sites are Hathighat, Kailash Ghat, Balkeshwar Ghat and Dussehra Ghat. Instead of drawing water from the Yamuna, each tank will be filled with water sourced from the Ganga, delivered via the Palda pipeline.
This initiative aligns with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) guidelines aimed at curbing river pollution caused by idol submersions. By channeling devotees to these controlled ponds, the corporation hopes to protect the Yamuna while still honoring the traditional immersion ritual.
Safety barriers are being erected around each tank, and municipal staff will be on hand to guide worshippers and supervise the process.
Additional Municipal Commissioner Shishir Kumar, together with Assistant Municipal Commissioner Ashok Priya Gautam, inspected the setup at Hathighat. Commissioner Kumar instructed Zonal Sanitary Officer Ashutosh Verma to ensure sufficient personnel are stationed at each ghat during the immersion period.
Assistant Commissioner Gautam emphasized that the temporary tanks comply with NGT standards and urged devotees to use only the official ponds. A dedicated municipal team will remain at the locations to monitor activities and guarantee a smooth, environmentally responsible immersion.
