Campaigns

Vodafone brings back eco-friendly ponds for Ganesh Chaturthi

‘Vodafone Eco Ponds’ set up at 7 Vodafone Stores in Pune and 4 mobile ‘Vodafone Eco Ponds’ will serve housing societies for eco-friendly visarjan

Published

September 12, 2018

M4G Bureau

After a resounding response to the ‘Vodafone Eco Ponds’ initiative during Ganeshotsav 2017, Vodafone Idea Limited brings back ‘Vodafone Eco Ponds’ 2018, for the Visarjan needs of Punekars.

Each year, over 75 lakh Ganesha idols made of Plaster of Paris are immersed in water bodies in and around Pune at the conclusion of the 11 day festival, leaving behind tonnes of non-degradable waste. Reports show that in and around Pune, water bodies showed a 100x increase in heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium and lead, known to affect nerves and kidneys, post Anant Chaturdashi.

Vodafone Idea’s research in Pune suggested that residents have been on the lookout for solutions to prevent pollution, even while permitting them to continue with their social/religious practices.

This year, Vodafone Idea has set up ‘Vodafone Eco-Ponds’, a temporary water tank setup equipped with a promoter and a life guard, at 7 Vodafone stores across the city. Starting September 13, Punekars can visit any of these store locations with their Ganesh idols, where they will be assisted to carry out the Visarjan.

Additionally 4 mobile ‘Vodafone Eco Ponds’ have been introduced this year. Housing societies in Pune can get the facility of the mobile ‘Vodafone Eco Pond’ within their premises to carry out visarjan in an eco-friendly manner.

‘Vodafone Eco Ponds’ initiative was born from these findings and a determination to find an environment friendly solution that will also preserve the sanctity surrounding Ganeshotsav. Conceived in partnership with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), ‘Vodafone Eco Ponds’ in Pune were used for immersing over 3100 Ganesha idols, during Ganeshotsav 2017.

Ganeshotsav is the most anticipated annual festival for Punekars. As the largest and most preferred telecom network in Maharashtra, and a responsible corporate citizen, ‘Vodafone Eco Ponds’ helped recycle 13 tonnes of PoP and generated 1 lakh litres of fertiliser post Ganeshotsav 2017. This resource was subsequently distributed to farmers in Maharashtra.

Vodafone stores located at NIBM, Wakdewadi, Aundh, Kharadi, Baner, Kalyani Nagar & Chinchwad link road have been equipped with ‘Vodafone Eco Ponds’.