The municipal bodies, GHMC, HMDA and Pollution Control Board, have decided to set up special stalls to distribute over two lakh clay Ganesha idols this festival. The locations where the stalls to be set up would be announced soon. A special pledge would also be taken to promote the use of eco-friendly idols this year, announced K.T. Rama Rao, Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development.
Speaking at an event organised here on Wednesday, the Minister said the intention behind inviting the school and college students was to promote the use of clay idols among youngsters and make them continue the practice. Hyderabad should become a model for other cities when it comes to eco-friendly celebration of Ganesha festival. “The GHMC has created exclusive immersion ponds at different locations in the city. In all, 25 ponds are being constructed at a cost of ₹22 crore to reduce pollution in Hussainsagar and other lakes and water bodies in the city,” Mr. Rao said. The Minister appealed to the colony associations, NGOs and households to use clay idols and make the festival a pollution-free one. Minister for Transport Mahender Reddy also asked the people to use eco-Ganeshas.
MLAs Arikepudi Gandhi, B. Goverdhan Reddy and Baba Fasiuddin, GHMC Commissioner B. Janardhan Reddy, HMDA Commissioner T. Chiranjeevulu, Member Secretary, Pollution Control Board, Satyanarayana, Corporators, public representatives and other senior officials from various departments participated in the awareness programme.
