Agra. In a bid to keep the Yamuna River clean after the Ganpati festivities, the Agra Municipal Corporation has introduced a novel arrangement for the immersion of Ganesh idols this year. Rather than allowing direct immersion in the river, the authorities have constructed four provisional ponds at key ghats across the city.

The designated locations are Hathighat, Kailash Ghat, Balkeshwar Ghat and Dussehra Ghat. Each pond will be filled with water sourced from the Ganga, delivered to Agra via the Palda pipeline, ensuring that no Yamuna water is used for the ritual.

This initiative aligns with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) guidelines aimed at curbing river pollution caused by idol submergence. By providing these controlled immersion sites, the corporation seeks to balance devotional practices with environmental responsibility.

To enhance safety, sturdy barricades are being erected around each pond. Municipal staff will be on hand to guide devotees, oversee the process, and maintain order throughout the immersion period.

Additional Municipal Commissioner Shishir Kumar, together with Assistant Municipal Commissioner Ashok Priya Gautam, inspected the setup at Hathighat. During the visit, Commissioner Kumar instructed Zonal Sanitary Officer Ashutosh Verma to deploy sufficient personnel at the site to manage the crowd and ensure smooth operations.

Assistant Municipal Commissioner Ashok Priya Gautam emphasized that the temporary ponds comply fully with NGT standards. He appealed to worshippers to use only the sanctioned ponds for immersion and assured that a dedicated municipal team will remain stationed at each location to monitor activities and guarantee a safe, orderly ceremony.