Idols to be removed and transported to solid waste dumping sites within 24 hours of immersion: Hyderabad civic body
The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed “one last time” the immersion of Ganesh idols in Hyderabad city’s Hussainsagar lake for Vinayaka Chaturthi celebrations this year.
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana passed the order on a petition filed by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). The civic body had sought a stay on the September 9 order of the Telangana High Court banning the immersion of Ganesh idols made of plaster of Paris (POP) in the lake.
The court observed that the immersion was a recurring problem despite the apprehensions of contamination of the lake water. The government itself should have banned the immersion of POP idols.
The court said it was not supporting the government by staying the order of the High Court. The stay was put on an affidavit given by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Telangana, that idols of POPs would not be immersed from next year.
The court said “millions of people” were ready for the ceremony this year.
“But this is the last time,” Chief Justice Ramana cautioned the state government. The court asked the government to give this assurance in an affidavit before it.
“Once upon a time, the water of the lake was used for drinking. That time had passed long ago. Now, I believe, a lot of money was spent on beautification… if the water gets polluted again, wouldn’t it be a waste of money spent on beautification,” Chief Justice Ramana told Mr Mehta. Asked.
crane deployed
The Solicitor General said that cranes have been deployed by the government to remove the immersed idols from the lake and transport them to the solid waste dumping sites.
The state argued that the deliberate but unexpected ban on immersion of POP idols by the High Court would cause huge losses to thousands of artisans. Moreover, the arrangements for the celebration were already well underway and the GHMC had taken precautions, which included arranging cranes to lift the idols out of the lake within a few hours of the immersion.
The state said the immersion ceremonies were scheduled to take place on September 18.
The idols will be removed within 24 hours of the immersion. These will be transported to solid waste dumping sites. GHMC has also made 25 baby ponds and distributed 50,000 small eco-friendly clay Ganesh idols…” said the GHMC petition filed through Advocate Venkata Reddy.
The local body had informed that the preparations for the festival had started in March. “The directions issued by the High Court at this juncture will cause huge public outrage and also create administrative difficulties,” it had said.
“The GHMC will ban the immersion of POP idols from next year in light of the guidelines issued by the Central Pollution Control Board. However, for this year GHMC seeks exemption,” the petition said.
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