HYDERABAD: While permitting immersion of Ganesh idols in Hussain Sagar lake this year, a division bench of the Hyderabad High Court on Thursday made it clear that the government and Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation had to ensure steps for immersion of idols in separate ponds from next year.
The bench, comprising acting chief justice Dilip B Bhosale and justice S V Bhatt, was dealing with a contempt case filed, seeking to punish the officials for not implementing the earlier orders of the court for protecting the lake from pollution.
The bench directed the government to prepare an action plan explaining steps that are going to be taken for immersion of idols in separate ponds instead of the Hussainsagar and also restricting the height of the idols from next year and to place the plan before the court.
Submitting a report of the city police commissioner before the bench, advocate- general K Ramakrishna Reddy said that as per the earlier court orders, the police and GHMC, along with other departments concerned, had been taking all steps to remove the remains of the idols, accumulated debris and other waste materials within 24 hours of the immersion. Besides, a a committee has been constituted with the officers concerned to take steps for protection of the lake.
Expressing satisfaction at the report of the police commissioner and the submissions of the AG, the bench said it was allowing idol immersion in the Hussainsagar because it would not be possible to seek steps for reducing the height of the idols now in view of the completion of idol-making for the festival on September 17.