HYDERABAD: The Telangana high court on Thursday banned immersion of Ganesh idols made of plaster of paris (PoP) in Hussainsagar.
The court, however, allowed immersion of chemical-free clay idols with a caveat that they be done at the ancient lake near PV Ghat, Sanjivaiah Park and Secretariat areas, but not in the main Tank Bund.
Experts welcomed the move and said it would go a long way in reducing pollution of the iconic lake and also ensure that debris do not get piled up in the main lake area.
PoP idols cannot be immersed in any of the lakes, except Hussainsagar, in the city and the special ponds built by GHMC for the purpose should be made use for immersing such idols, the court said in a directive.
From next year onwards, even making of PoP idols shall not be permitted, the court said.
“For this year, they will be allowed to be sold because officials have failed to implement the Central Pollution Control Board norms in this regard and any forcible banning of them at the last minute will adversely affect the livelihoods of poor idol makers,” said a bench of Acting Chief Justice M S Ramachandra Rao and Justice T Vinod Kumar in a contempt case filed by advocate Mamidi Venu Madhav who expressed serious concern over the ill-effects of PoP idols and their immersion in Hussainsagar.
Madhav sought action against officials of PCB, GHMC and police for failing to implement the guidelines issued by the high court in this regard.
The bench converted the contempt petition into a PIL and after hearing all sides, it came to a conclusion that PCB, GHMC and police were not willing to take a stand in favour of the environment in sensitive matters, particularly where sentiments of the devotees are involved.
