Boats,chopper,lifeguards for safe immersion

Navy teams will be at Malad,Ghatkopar,Mankhurd,Worli and the Naval Dockyard,with divers at Girgaum and Powaii. The Coast Guard has deployed a fast patrol vessel off Mumbai. An interceptor boat (IB) will be placed close to the coast,fully equipped with Gemini boats for rescue efforts,along with a helicopter to monitor aerial security.

A key immersion spot will be Girgaum,where the civic administration will install CCTV cameras. The Mayor,Chief Minister and other dignitaries of the city traditionally bid the Elephant God adieu from this pandal.

Special arrangements have also been made at Marve beach for the first time. A temporary road with steel plates is being set up on the marshy beach. Because facilities at Malad are inadequate for the immersion of large idols,devotees will have to go to Gorai,Aarey Colony or other locations.

“Four speedboats will help in the immersion process,” said assistant municipal commissioner,P/North ward,Ashwin Khanolkar.

A workforce of 40,000 civic employees will be in place across immersion spots. Keeping a watch will be 500 lifeguards,including 300 from NGOs,while 44 motorboats will help immerse idols. Also,6,000 NGO workers will help in crowd management.

The BMC’s measures include 52 ambulances near the shores and 60 medical booths for first-aid. Twelve mobile toilets will be set up at Girguum,Mahim,Juhu,Marve,Versova,Powai and Dadar.

The civic administration has urged all devotees to not dump flowers and artificial decorations in seawater and place them in special urns instead. This year,around 2,500 tonnes of bio-degradable garbage is expected to be collected in such urns; 500 vehicles will collect it from source. The garbage will later be vermi-composted.

The 17 artificial lakes have been set up for environment-friendly immersion. The ward where the most immersions take place will be given a cash award.