KMC to Store Large Ganesh Idols as El Niño Strains Water Supply
KMC will store large Ganesh idols due to water scarcity from El Niño, urging devotees to use small idols for bucket immersion.
With El Niño conditions tightening water availability across the region, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has announced a plan to store large Ganesh idols rather than immerse them in water bodies. The decision comes as many ponds, rivers, and other immersion sites are expected to lack sufficient water during the festival period.
The civic body cited the non-availability of water in these bodies as the primary reason for the move. Instead of allowing large idols to be immersed in depleted water sources, the KMC will hold them in designated storage facilities until conditions improve.
In a parallel appeal, organisers and devotees have been urged to cooperate with the initiative. The KMC has specifically recommended installing smaller idols — ideally between one and 1.5 feet in height — which can be conveniently immersed in buckets or tubs at home or at designated collection points. This approach, officials believe, will significantly cut water usage while still allowing devotees to observe the ritual.
The storage plan is part of a broader conservation effort aimed at managing the impact of the ongoing El Niño weather pattern, which has reduced rainfall and lowered water levels in many reservoirs and natural water bodies.