Fifteen lakes have been identified in the city and suburbs for the immersion of Ganesh idols, said GHMC Commissioner M. T. Krishna Babu on Monday.
Plans have also been drawn up to identify some more water bodies on the outskirts of the city, in co-ordination with the corporators to facilitate pandal organisers to immerse idols there instead of coming to Hussainsagar, he said.
He was speaking to media persons after participating as a chief guest at a workshop organised by Tree Guard Foundation for schoolchildren on making clay Ganesh idols.
Municipal officials have already begun works pertaining to installation of halogen lamps and mobile barricades near lakes at Hasmathpet, IDL Kukatpally, Durgam Cheruvu, Patancheru, Foxsagar at Qutbullapur, Safilguda, Saroornagar, Pallevagu at Rajendranagar and Miralam Tank along with Hussainsagar.
Emphasising on the need to use clay idols for the forthcoming Ganesh festival, the Commissioner said that idols made of Plaster of Paris (PoP) with bright colours were polluting water bodies after immersion.
“It's the responsibility of NGOs to educate people on advantages of using clay idols,” he said.
As part of its endeavour to promote clay idols, the foundation has also decided to distribute 50,000 small clay idols free of cost.
“We have hired idol makers from West Bengal to make five-feet high idols to deliver them to colony associations and apartments for Rs.2,000 each,” said foundation Secretary V. Ch. V. Sreenath.
For those interested in clay idols, please call: 98498 24026 or 2305 3036.
