HYDERABAD: Despite a number of awareness campaigns being conducted, regarding the harmful effects of plaster of paris (PoP), for at least 10 years now, the level of damage that takes place at this time of the year, is only increasing. According to those working for the protection of lakes and water bodies in the city, though citizens understand the effects of using Ganesha idols made of PoP, lack of a policy to ban its usage is leading to further choking of lakes. “This year, we conducted awareness campaigns against the use of PoP at 64 schools and 13 colleges around lakes. As part of our routine to sensitise communities and connect them to their local water bodies, we have been involving children and residential associations in our clean up campaigns.
A lot of people are choosing clay and mud over PoP. However, this is limited to households,” pointed Arun Krishnamurthi, founder, Environmentalist Foundation of India. The rise in the number of pandals is purely commercial. In certain areas in the city, more than one Ganesh pandal is set up in a single lane and with at least 30,000 pandals this year, there is no scope for reviving our water bodies, added Arun. The number of baby ponds, specially constructed for immersion of Ganesh idols have been increased to 25 this year.
“Construction of something within a water body simply amounts to destruction of a water body. Besides, it was barely a month ago that our lakes have begun to emit toxic froth,” recalled Lubna Sarwath, from Save Our Urban Lakes.The status of RK Puram that came as a shocker is something that other lakes will soon follow. “The lakes are getting damaged faster than expected. The extent of damage that happened in the last two years, has not happened in the last 20 years,” pointed Arun, which is all due to the encroachment of lakes’ catchment areas. Festive damage is additional, he said.