Cuttack, Sept. 8: Ganesh idols are openly being immersed in major rivers and water bodies in different parts of the city raising apprehensions of water pollution.

Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) has already started setting up temporary pits to facilitate the immersion of idols by clubs and Puja committees from September 11 following police orders. However, there is no check on immersions by educational institutions and private residents in the city.

Between 30 and 40 idols have been immersed at Gadagadia Ghat in the past two days. Senior police officials told The Telegraph that according to Orissa High Court order issued last September, all idols of clubs and Puja committees have to be immersed on three different dates - September 11, 18 and 25 - in temporary water bodies.

"We knew that no licence was required for immersion of household idols. Hence we had come to Gadgadia ghat for the immersion today," said Rakesh Nayak, a resident of Buxi Bazaar.

Only 300 clubs and youth associations have applied for immersion, while total number of immersions is likely to cross 1,200 this year. Last year, 1,186 clubs and youth associations had applied for immersion licence.

"We have no control on immersions by residents and private institutions. However, we have issued strict immersion guidelines for clubs and other youth associations," said deputy commissioner of police Sanjeev Arora.

The corporation officials have identified five spots where temporary pits would be dug to facilitate immersion.

"We have started to dig pits at Purighat, Khannagar, Kartik Gada, Gadagadia ghat and near Jagatpur. If required, we will dig a few more pits at other places," said corporation commissioner Gyana Das.