Celebrate 100% eco-friendly Ganeshotsav, say no to thermocol decor

To drive the point home, the KDMC has displayed a makhar made of recycled cardboard at its headquarters in Dombivli

If you are planning to celebrate this Ganeshotsav in an eco-friendly way, then make sure that your makhar is made of eco-friendly materials. While many revellers are now opting for Ganesha idols made of clay, they tend to place them in makhar’s made of thermocol — which is hazardous for the environment when disposed off hapharadly.

A woman checks eco-friendly makhars at Thane on Thursday. (Praful Gangurde)

The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) has appealed the citizens of the twin cities to say no makhars made of thermocol . Officials said the thermoplastic compound in thermocol is obtained by polymerisation of polythene, which makes the material non-biodegradable. Since thermocol does not decompose, it makes the soil infertile. It also releases poisonous gases on burning, which can cause respiratory diseases.

To drive the point home, the KDMC has displayed a makhar made of recycled cardboard at its headquarters in Dombivli and has put up a hording explaining the importance of choosing eco-friendly decor.

“Makhars made of cardboards are foldable and can be reused next year as well. Usually, people throw away makhars made of thermocol after visarjan,” said a KDMC official.

“One can buy the eco-friendly decor online. It will help save your time and promote an eco-friendly Ganeshotsav,” the official said.

To motivate sculptors to make more eco-friendly idols this year, the civic body has also upped cash prizes. The amount has been increased by Rs5,000 following directives from municipal commissioner P Velarasu and mayor Rajendra Devlekar.

“We have increased the prize money to motivate all the mandals to switch to eco-friendly idols and makhars. Thsi will help us spread the message of celebrating an eco-friendly Ganeshotsav,” said Devlekar.

After the twin cities ranked 234 for cleanliness in the Swacch Bharat Survekshan 2017, the KDMC has upped its effort to improve the rankings and is using Ganeshotav to promote eco-friendly ways of celebrating festivals.