GHMC ties up with KinderSports to install tanks for idol immersion at 24 locations in the city
GHMC ties up with KinderSports to install tanks for idol immersion at 24 locations in the city
It is a small step for Ganesh Visarjan and a big leap to save water bodies in Hyderabad. As a first of its kind large scale initiative for Ganesh nimajjanam GHMC has tied up with Pune-based Kindersports LLP to install portable pools at 24 locations (see box) across the city. Made of industrial grade PVC, mounted on a corrosion-resistant steel structure, these 20×10 meter tanks can hold up to 4 lakh liters of water so that about 10- 15,000 Ganesh ji of about 1.5 to 3 feet height can be immersed.
Hyderabad-born, KinderSports founder Nikhil Girish Laddha hopes that these portable tanks can promote eco-friendly immersion practices in the city. “The tank bund we have seen since childhood will not be the same for generations to come if it is continuously polluted,” he says.
how it started
Portable Pool | photo credit: special arrangement
pool space
PJR Stadium, Chandannagar
Saki Cherevu, Patancheru
NTR Stadium, Secunderabad
Police Station Ground, Chilkalguda,
Moosarambagh, Amberpetty
Shenoy Nursing Home, Marredpally
Mandal Ground, Saroornagar
Secretariat Nagar, Vanasthalipuram
MRO, Hayatnagar LB Nagar
AS Rao Nagar, Kaprai
Chittarama Temple, Kamalaprasad Nagar,
Chintal, Gajulraram
Kovkur Main Road
GHMC Ground, Ameerpet
NBT Nagar, Banjara Hills
Nizam College, Basheerbagh
Exhibition Ground, Nampally
Central Secretariat, Khairatabad
In the field of sports education, Kindersports has been introducing sports to children from rural and tribal areas for the last seven years. The company conceptualized these portable swimming tanks (15×5 m) in 2016 to teach swimming to children in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Goa. One such swimming project of his in Vijayawada caught the attention of GHMC officials in 2019. “They contacted us again in December 2021 and asked if we could build a bigger pool for Ganesh Visarjan. It was a unique idea for us as we were a sports company and were not looking at that angle,” he recalled, adding that officials disclosed that the number of Ganesh idols used in homes is around two and a half lakh; If they can be immersed in these pools, the toxic chemicals that kill marine life can be avoided.
Pools are not permanent structures and can be installed within a day’, water is drained and removed in a few days. On 1 September, around 10 idols – a mixture of clay and POP – were immersed in the pool for the first time.
water gets recycled
Whereas soil residues in water can be used to make either idol (sculptures) For re- or gardening, water is biodegradable and can be used for watering plants. The team is doing a small prototype to see how POP idols dissolve in the chemical ammonia bi-carbonate. “When this chemical is added to POPs the two by-products are ammonia, a fertilizer and calcium carbonate (chalk). If it is successful, we can use the chemical from the next immersion onwards,” he added.
In case of massive immersion, the team will take out the sludge and refill the water for 10 days. These portable tanks are free for occupants to use.
Nikhil says, “I thank GHMC for being futuristic and hope that this initiative will be taken to the states where the 10-day Ganesh Utsav is celebrated in a big way. “We hope that people will use this method to keep the lakes clean and save the ecosystem; If we’re not going to drink this kind of water, why should marine life do it?” he asks
The team is working jointly with Lions Club to reach out to gated communities. Once these tanks are cleaned after immersion, they can be used by the school/society for the rest of the year to teach swimming to the children.