Bandi Sanjay Kumar’s allegations that the State government was trying to obstruct Ganesh idol immersion appear to have an ulterior motive as the facts tell a completely different story.
The BJP State chief forgot, or chose to forget, that the State government was actually providing more facilities for devotees in order to make the Ganesh immersion process a smooth one. That was what many say he was doing to vitiate the atmosphere during the festival.
Aside from tight security to prevent any trouble, the State’s efforts have been to make things easier for devotees, from artificial ponds (baby ponds) near water bodies to portable ponds and even mobile ponds at the doorstep.
Several Twitter users, like K Pratik Reddy, pointed out that these measures were part of implementing guidelines issued by the Central Pollution Control Board and court orders.
In addition to attaching copies of the directions issued by the High Court while hearing a petition on the issue in July of this year, Reddy hinted at the State government’s opposition to one particular community. According to the court, the state must plan and regulate the diversion of Plaster of Paris (PoP) made idols from Hussain Sagar to the GHMC’s baby ponds.
As the High Court pointed out, PoP idols were allowed in 2021 only ‘as a last chance’ since the Supreme Court had promised not to allow immersion of idols in Hussain Sagar in the future. In response to a special leave petition filed by the GHMC Commissioner, the Solicitor General of India said that immersion of PoP idols would be prohibited in 2022 in light of revised CPCB guidelines, and pleaded for an exemption in 2021 as time was running out for new plans.
Further, the SC was assured that steps would be taken to minimize pollution in Hussain Sagar, that modern cranes would be deployed at immersion sites, and that the idols would be lifted soon and transported to a solid waste dumping site for recycling, after which the apex court ordered the State to submit a compliance report. In fact, the State government has been doing this for some time.
In addition, the guidelines specify that ‘idols made from only natural, biodegradable, eco-friendly raw materials (such as traditional virtuous clay and mud as well as free from Plaster of Paris (PoP), plastic and thermocol (polystyrene) should be encouraged, allowed and promoted, while idols made of Plaster of Paris (PoP) shall be prohibited.
Furthermore, Bandi Sanjay Kumar forgot that the State did not yet ban Ganesh immersion in Hussain Sagar, but rather promoted clay Ganesh idols, with GHMC alone distributing four lakh clay idols, in addition to launching various initiatives to create artificial ponds for immersion.
There is therefore no evidence to support his claim that the government obstructed Ganesh immersion activities.
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