The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) transported 2,754.85 metric tonnes (MT) of retrieved idols and other post-immersion material during this year’s Ganesh festival, making 707 vehicle trips between September 16 and 27 as part of its citywide post-immersion clean-up.

Amruta Fadnavis, actor Ajay Devgn, and BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide attend the ‘Sea Shore Shine 2026’ beach-cleaning initiative at Juhu Beach in Mumbai. (File Photo (Satish Bate/HT))

The largest quantity was moved on September 26, when 510.92 MT of material was transported in 131 trips. Among the civic wards, K/West, covering Andheri and Juhu, recorded the highest quantity at 314.82 MT, followed by S Ward in Bhandup with 253.58 MT and D Ward in Malabar Hill with 249.43 MT.

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The civic body had issued a citywide standard operating procedure (SOP) covering the retrieval, transportation, documentation and temporary storage of the material. Ward-level teams were deployed to remove the immersed idols, while clean, covered vehicles were used for transportation.

To track the operation, BMC officials maintained vehicle-wise weight records at weighbridges, along with ward-wise data, photographs and daily progress reports.

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The large-scale retrieval is particularly significant because a substantial quantity of the idols is made of Plaster of Paris (PoP), which does not dissolve in water in the same manner as traditional clay. If retained in artificial immersion ponds or allowed to enter natural water bodies, PoP can affect water quality, reduce the capacity of immersion facilities and eventually accumulate along beaches and other water bodies.

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The material collected has been transported to a designated temporary storage facility in Mulund, where it is being consolidated pending scientific recycling and reuse. BMC has also invited expressions of interest to identify suitable, environmentally compliant technologies for recycling the material.