Several Ganapati mandals have also approached Brihanmumbai Municipal Council for `anti-plastic carry bag' posters. Some mandals are also likely to show a video tape of an operation on a cow where 55 kgs of plastic was removed from its body. Audio tapes playing anti-plastic messages have also been distributed.

Kundan Agaskar, president BSGSS, said a massive awareness drive was being organised. ``We have appealed to all the 12,000 registered Sarvajanik Ganesh Mandals to minimise the use of plastic bags, with special instructions about the disposal of nirmalya,'' he told Express Newsline.

Vijay Khatu, president of the Brihanmumbai Murtikar Sangh said it was high time use ofplastic was discouraged at every level. ``The issue is currently gaining momentum and plastic carry bags, being non-biodegradable, should be banned,'' he said.

For the first time, BMC too has issued instructions to place a van in each ward to collect the nirmalya. M R Shah, chief engineer, Solid Waste Management, said at a meeting held on Friday it was also decided to station a van at all identified immersion spots to collect the flowers and other offerings. Each van will have three labourers, including the driver, and will equipped be with a public address system.

The BMC is also installing 11 mangal kalashas - huge fibreglass vessels - at immersion sites which could be used by devotees to dispose off nirmalya. The collected nirmalya would be sent to three vermiculture plants and the manure thus produced would be used only in flower pots. These vermiculture plants are located at Somaiya college compound, Sion Hospital compound and Excel Industries, Jogeshwari.

While there are 12,000 SarvajanikGanesh Mandals registered with the Charity Commissioner, there are an estimated 25,000 that are not. The BSGSS has around 4,000 members. There are 72 identified immersions point which include the most sought after Girgaon, Dadar Chowpatty, Mahim and Juhu beaches.

``Devotees place flowers and other offerings in a polythene bag while immersing the idols. It's very convenient. Nobody gives a thought to the environmental damage being caused,'' said Nandakishore Shivalkar, a reputed artisan who is asking his customers to put an end to the practice and immerse only the flowers. Mansi Lavannis, a resident of Borivli who celebrates the festival every year, has decided to abide by the Samiti's appeal. ``My family will place only flowers in water...no plastic this time,'' she asserted.

Morya to that.