Agra. In a bid to curb river pollution after the Ganpati festivities, the Agra Municipal Corporation has created four dedicated immersion ponds across the city. Devotees will no longer be allowed to submerge Ganesh idols directly into the Yamuna.

The selected ghats—Hathighat, Kailash Ghat, Balkeshwar Ghat and Dussehra Ghat—now host temporary basins that will be filled with water sourced from the Ganga, conveyed via the Palda pipeline. This substitution ensures that the Yamuna remains untouched by the chemicals and debris typically released during idol immersion.

This initiative aligns with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) guidelines aimed at curbing water‑body contamination from religious practices. By providing a controlled environment, the corporation hopes to balance devotional customs with ecological responsibility.

To enhance safety, sturdy barricades have been erected around each pond, and municipal staff will be on‑site to guide worshippers and oversee the process. Additional personnel have been instructed to maintain a vigilant presence throughout the immersion period.

Additional Municipal Commissioner Shishir Kumar, together with Assistant Municipal Commissioner Ashok Priya Gautam, inspected the arrangements at Hathighat. During the walkthrough, they directed Zonal Sanitary Officer Ashutosh Verma to deploy sufficient staff at the venue to manage crowds and ensure smooth operations.

Assistant Municipal Commissioner Ashok Priya Gautam emphasized that the temporary ponds were set up strictly according to NGT recommendations. He urged devotees to use only the designated basins for immersion, assuring that a dedicated municipal team will monitor the sites to guarantee a safe, orderly, and environmentally sound conclusion to the festival.