In a first-of-its-kind environmental initiative, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has recycled 700 plaster of Paris (POP) Ganesh idols into 760 study tables, giving a new purpose to idols collected after last year's Ganesh immersion.
Following the Bombay High Court's directions and Maharashtra government's environmental guidelines, the civic body had set up 146 artificial immersion ponds during the Ganesh festival. Around 8,000 POP idols immersed in these ponds were collected and safely stored for scientific recycling.
With technical guidance from experts and support through the CSR funds of Heineken India Private Limited and Beach Please India Limited, the project was implemented in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Navi Mumbai. About 1,500 kg of recycled POP was used to manufacture the 760 study tables.
The newly made study tables have been distributed to students of Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Municipal Secondary School No. 104 at Ambedkar Nagar in Rabale.
The NMMC said it is now working on the next phase of the project to scientifically process the remaining POP idols and convert the material into reusable POP for future applications. Discussions are underway with the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai, to develop a sustainable recycling model.
The civic body said the initiative is part of its broader commitment to environmental conservation under the state's Majhi Vasundhara campaign, in which Navi Mumbai has been recognised as one of Maharashtra's leading environmentally sustainable cities.