Telangana HC prohibits immersion of POP Ganesh idols in Hussain Sagar, other water bodies

Hyderabad: Telangana High Court has prohibited immersion of Ganesh idols made of Plaster of Paris (POP) in Hussain Sagar or any other water bodies in Hyderabad.

A division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice N.V.Sravan Kumar directed the Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad, to ensure that Ganesh Idols made of Plaster of Paris (POP) are not immersed in Hussain Sagar or any other water bodies in the city.

"CP Hyderabad is directed to ensure that no immersion of the POP idols takes place. Such Idols should be immersed in baby ponds created by GHMC," Chief Justice said.

The court was adjudicating the petition filed by Telangana Ganesh Murti Kalakaar Welfare Association, Dhoolpet Hyderabad, and 8 others, challenging the validity of clause 2.0 issued by the Central Pollution Control Board, New Delhi, which bans Plaster of Paris in making Ganesh idols.

The court pointed out orders passed by the Bombay High Court in Ajay Sadashiv Vaishampayan vs. Union of India and the Madras High Court, which restrained the petitioners from manufacturing the Idols made of POP and immersing them in water bodies.

The orders were challenged before the Apex Court by filing a Special Leave Petition, which was dismissed. The court also refered to a contempt case passed restraining the state from immersing the Ganesh idols made of POP in Hussain Sagar Lake.

The state went into an appeal in the Supreme Court in 2021 and sought permission to immerse Ganesh Idols made of POP in Hussain Sagar for the year 2021 citing paucity of time and inability to make last-minute changes in the immersion schedule.

Supreme Court permitted the state government to immerse Ganesh idols in Hussain Sagar for 2021 as a last chance.

Further, the court directed Harender Prasad, a special government pleader attached to the AG office, to inform them about the strict adherence. The court also asked to file a compliance report within 3 weeks.

Around 50K idols ready for immersion

On September 28, over 50,000 idols are expected to be immersed in various water bodies. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has prepared special water tanks for immersing small and medium-sized idols, less than 6-foot tall.

According to GHMC, there are 22 portable prefabricated water tanks, 23 excavated water tanks and 27 baby ponds, adding up to a total of 74 such water bodies specially created for immersion of idols in all the 30 circles across 5 zones of Greater Hyderabad. These water bodies are created with a special focus on preventing smaller Plaster of Paris idols from making it to around 60 other natural water bodies, including Hussainsagar Lake, and stop their pollution.