VIJAYAWADA: Ganesh festival organisers in the city were asked by the district administration to only install eco friendly clay idols of Ganesh in the pandals and take out immersion procession without causing problems for others.
Addressing a review meeting over Ganesh festival arrangements in the city and immersion processions with Ganesh Utsav committee and pandal organisers, district collector Babu A asked them to see that people in the locality, where the Ganesh idols were installed in pandals, are not subjected to any inconvenience.
They were asked to ensure necessary permissions and precautions were taken in regard to power supply to the pandals and electrical illumination.
Asking them to see that only clay idols are immersed so there will not be any pollution in Krishna water as it is used for drinking water purpose, Babu A said five places - Pedapulipaka, Prakasam Barrage down, Budameru, Rajarajeswari Peta and the ramp located down of Varadi - have been earmarked for the immersion of idols.
Police commissioner Gautam Sawang asked the pandal organisers not to cause trouble to locals and only immerse the idols at the given locations.
He asked them to give prior notice to police of immersion. Municipal commissioner G Veerapandian asked the organisers to have an effective garbage disposal system in place. Joint Collector Gandham Chandrudu, SE (irrigation) C Ramakrishna and others were present.
Meanwhile, the city was decked up for Ganesh festival and its main thoroughfares were crowded with festival shoppers.
Though it drizzled on Wednesday evening, it had not deterred the people from shopping. Many with children in tow, went to the places, where clay idols of Ganesh of various sizes were being sold or distributed. Several voluntary organisations have come forward this year to distribute clay Ganesh idols free of cost.