Although Raul has been promoting ‘eco-friendly’ Ganeshotsav from last year, the appeal has fallen on deaf ears. “Big sarvajanik (public) Ganesh mandals do not agree with eco-friendly idols, but we can start the process through individual households,” she said.

In a joint committee meeting held between the civic body and city’s Ganesh mandals co-ordination committee, idol makers had rejected the suggestion of eco-friendly idols stating that they take more than two months for preparation as against a few days time for Plaster of Paris idols.

The mayor said that this workshop will be sponsored by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. “We will tell idol makers to teach people how to make eco-friendly idols, for a fee from those attending this workshop,” she said.

The idea behind the workshop is to initiate awareness and promote the concept of eco-friendly idols. “After learning how to make idols, people can install it at their homes during Ganeshotsav. They can collect the soil after immersion and re-make the idol,” Raul said. A citizens’ NGO at Pestom Sagar, Chembur had set up artificial lakes in the society to avoid avoid water pollution and traffic congestion. “This model can be followed across the city. In my ward at Dahisar, we had set up an artificial lake last year and I will direct the civic administration to set up such facilities at all civic wards,” she said.