The seventh dirtiest city in the world has hit upon a novel idea to tackle its most sacred waste – religious offerings.
The seventh dirtiest city in the world has hit upon a novel idea to tackle its most sacred waste – religious offerings.
Until now they were placed near tree trunks as the devotees felt they would convert into manure in time and boost tree growth. However, the mix of flower, curd, oil, ghee, milk, rice and wheat does quite the opposite, harms the trees, eventually causing them to wither.
Devotees find it difficult to place these pooja offerings into the dustbins, which is a symbol for everything dirty and unhygienic. And ever since a fine on throwing them into the sea came into effect in 2005, many leave the offerings at the foot of trees. But on D Road in Marine Lines, when 50 kg of offerings coming daily from around 200 flats and a temple on the road each day led to a few trees dying, the residents decided to take proactive steps.
They teamed up with the Brihamumbai Municipal Corporation, in a first of its kind collaboration, and came up with a plan to convert these impromptu ‘Nirmalaya kalashs’ (urns installed by the BMC to collect religious offerings) into manure in an organic way, while also ensuring the emotions of the devotees are not hurt.
“The trees were slowly dying and rats too were eating into them, weakening the roots. One 15-foot tree died recently and several young ones were about to die too,” said Anil Bhaita, a member of the Marine Drive Residents Association, D Road.
“We then requested the BMC to make pits for us,” he said. Now, the road has ten pits along the pavement for collecting religious offerings. Each has a grill at the top and the bottom to allow passage of air, which acts as a catalyst. They are strategically placed near gutters so that after the waste is washed with water, it can flow into the drains. Once collected, the offerings are washed, dried, and given the vermicast treatment after adding lime and rock dust to neutralise the enzymes and acids.
“We then use it as manure,” added Bhatia. Separate pits have also been made for the dry leaves so that they are not wasted. “The dry leaves are also given similar treatment, only they are not washed,” added Bhatia. The residents have appointed labour to pick up the offerings in case they are not put in the right pit by devotees.
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