Pune: Pune Mayor Mukta Tilak has appealed to citizens to go for eco-friendly Ganesh festival celebrations and immerse Ganesh idols at home in a water solution using sodium bicarbonate for scientific disposal of the idols.

Speaking to the press on Monday, Tilak said that each year around six lakh Ganesh idols are installed out of which around five lakh idols are made of Plaster of Paris, which does not dissolve completely and chemical colours used for painting the idols pollute the river.

“To avoid further pollution of rivers, citizens should use sodium bicarbonate for dissolving idols in water tubs at home,” she said. The PMC has procured 100 metric tonne sodium bicarbonate powder for scientific disposal of the idols. Further, 13 metric tonne sodium bicarbonate powder left over from last year would also be used for the purpose, Tilak said.

However, while the PMC is trying to prevent immersion of idols in flowing water, Tilak kept mum on taking action against Sanatan Sanstha, which promoted immersion of idols in flowing water.