Pune: 24K PoP Ganesha idols immersed using sodium bicarbonate

As many as 24,000 Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols of Lord Ganesha were immersed using eco-friendly solution - sodium bicarbonate, developed by city-based National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) here on the last day of the festival.
This year, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) distributed the powder-based solution, among people free of cost, in a bid to reduce the river and soil pollution.
"This year, we used Sodium bicarbonate during the immersion of household idols, made up of POP, at artificial 'kunds' at various areas and approximately 24,000 such idols were immersed at the 'kunds', where the eco-friendly solution was mixed," said Suresh Jagtap, head of the solid waste management department, PMC.

He said the solution, made up of baking powder, helps dissolve POP and turns the residue into fertiliser.
Jagtap added that apart from using it at various 'kunds', the powder-based solution was even distributed among people in packets and household idols were immersed at home using the solution.
He said total 48 tonne Sodium bicarbonate was used to dissolve the POP idols by civic body.