More tanks on the anvil for Ganesh idol immersion: GHMC

Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is gearing up for the Ganesh Chaturthi festival with renewed vigour. The GHMC constructed 10 tanks last year for Ganesh idols visarjan, followed after 11-day festivities, and the work for another set of tanks has already started. GHMC Commissioner B Janardhan Reddy said that the tanks would be completed before the visarjan day i.e., September 5, 2018.

The tanks are being constructed close to water bodies and Rs 20.67 crore had been allotted for the purpose, out of which Rs 6.95 crore was used last year. This year nearly 15 tanks will be completed at a cost of Rs 14.8 crore. Senior GHMC officials said that pollution in Hussainsagar Lake and other water bodies would reduce to a great extent as people are warming up to the idea of immersing the idols in tanks. Ravi Kumar, a resident of Cherlapally said, “These tanks are really useful as we do not have to travel all the way to Hussainsagar Lake to immerse the idols.”

On an average, each tank is being constructed at a cost of Rs 90 lakh. The costliest being the Hussainsagar Cheruvu-Ambedhkar Nagar tank which is being constructed at a cost of Rs 1.35 crore and the lowest amount being spent is Rs 89 lakh for Alwal-Kothacheruvu.

Officials said that the tanks would be used not just for Ganesh visarjan but also during Bathukamma festival. Last year thousands of idols below 15-feet in height were immersed in these tanks. Over 20,000 idols are expected to be immersed this year which would reduce the burden on Hussainsagar Lake.

Water would be pumped into the tanks from the lakes that are close by. Mahesh K, a resident of Alwal said, “It is a good idea that the civic body is constructing tanks but when not in use, these are turning into garbage dumping areas. There is a need to have security personnel.”