Canacona: All Ganeshotsav mandals under the Canacona Municipal Council have proposed organising an eco-friendly and swachh Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 competition to promote environmentally sustainable and responsible celebrations.Participants will be assessed on their choice of idols, waste management and segregation, decorations, cleanliness, and public-awareness initiatives, said chief officer Laxmikant Desai.He said mandals should use idols made from natural clay, mud, or other eco-friendly materials, preferably finished with natural colours, and avoid plaster of paris and chemical-based paints. Decorations, he added, should be made with natural, recyclable, and locally available materials.Organisers will be asked to provide dustbins at mandal premises and ensure that wet and dry waste generated by devotees and visitors is properly segregated. The premises and vicinity should remain clean and hygienic throughout the festival, with timely waste disposal.Mandals have also been encouraged to avoid single-use plastic, thermocol, and other non-biodegradable materials in decorations and festival arrangements. They may also display messages, posters, and slogans promoting environmental protection, cleanliness, waste segregation, and sustainable celebrations.Desai said the competition is not meant only to identify the best-decorated mandal, but to build awareness among devotees and the wider public about responsible waste management and environmental protection during Ganesh Chaturthi.
