Mumbai’s historic Banganga Tank in Walkeshwar has been barricaded to prevent direct ritual offerings during the final days of Pitru Paksha, after large numbers of fish died in the water body on October 3. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said the temporary restriction was introduced ahead of an expected increase in footfall and to address environmental and public-health concerns.
The barricading was installed on Thursday night, according to civic officials. The action followed a meeting on October 5 involving ward officials, residents, public representatives and priests who conduct rituals at the tank. The meeting discussed measures to prevent further damage to the water body while allowing devotees to continue their religious observances.
The fish deaths were reported after fish surfaced in the tank, with officials and local representatives attributing the incident to an alleged fall in oxygen levels caused by ritual offerings. The restriction is the first reported instance of direct immersion in the tank being barred during Pitru Paksha, an annual fortnight during which Hindus perform Shradh rituals for their ancestors. This year’s observance runs from September 26 to October 10.
Ten artificial tanks have been installed for ritual offerings, along with taps for devotees who wish to bathe, public representative Sunny Sanap said. The alternative arrangements use water from the Banganga Tank. Six oxygenation pumps are also operating, with additional deployments planned if required.
Sanap, the municipal councillor from the D219 ward, said the arrangements were intended to balance religious practices with environmental concerns. He said visitors would continue to have access to the tank’s water through taps and artificial tanks, while the water body itself would remain off limits for rituals.
Residents welcomed the barricading, although they said preventing fish deaths had previously required substantial volunteer effort. Resident Bhavesh Thakur said there had been occasions when fish deaths were avoided without barricading, but only through the deployment of significant manpower and volunteers.
The move also addresses concerns about foul smells and health risks around the tank, said Santosh Salunkhe, assistant municipal commissioner of the BMC’s D Ward. Salunkhe said the barricading was undertaken in anticipation of high footfall during the final days of Pitru Paksha and was aligned with the High Court’s decision to protect water bodies from degradation.
The restrictions follow earlier concerns over activities at Banganga Tank, including the barring of traditional Ganpati immersion on environmental grounds. Sanap said residents had questioned why similar restrictions had not been imposed during Pitru Paksha. At the October 5 meeting, the ward officer and area corporator advised priests to guide devotees towards practices that would reduce pressure on the historic water body.
The tank will remain off limits for direct rituals during the remaining days of Pitru Paksha, while the artificial tanks, taps and oxygenation pumps remain in use as the civic administration’s immediate measures.
