The pollution level in Hyderabad’s Hussain Sagar lake has not increased significantly this year due to the immersion of Ganesh idols, thanks to the State government’s consistent efforts in promoting clay idols and the city’s heavy rainfall during those days.
This year, approximately 88,299 Ganesh idols were immersed in Hussain Sagar, 42,952 of which were made of clay and 45,347 of Plaster of Paris (PoP). The Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB) highlighted that half of the idols were made of clay.
During the Ganesh festival every year, the board monitors the lake’s water quality. It examined the water quality before, during, and after the immersion of the idols this year as well.
On August 28, September 2, 5, 7, 9, and 12, samples were collected from six different locations.
According to the TSPCB’s joint chief environmental scientist, four samples were taken during immersion and one before and after immersion. The samples were taken at platform number one and two at NTR Park, near Lumbini Park, on Necklace Road, near Lepakshi Handicrafts (near the immersion point), and near the Buddha Statue (midstream) control point.
Though the Ganesh immersions last month caused a slight increase in pollution levels in the lake, these levels are said to have returned to normal soon after the idol debris was removed.
The data also showed only a minor increase in Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), which indicates the level of harmful contaminants in water, during the immersion.
The Telangana State Pollution Control Board has been monitoring the immersion of hundreds of Ganesh idols made of gypsum and painted with synthetic colors over the last few years. In 2019, the electrical conductivity of water near Hussainsagar Lake’s NTR Park increased from 1,172 to 1,638 mhos/cm in a week, indicating increased total dissolved solids (TDS) in the water. The TDS level rose from 698 to 1,013 mg/L.
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