Khairatabad move to trigger change

Hyderabad: Environmentalists and experts, who were advocating an eco-friendly immersion, got a short in the arm with the Khairatabad Ganesh Utsav Samiti expressing its willingness to opt for a clay idol from next year.

The Khairatabad Ganesh with 57 feet height is made of 40,000 kg plaster of paris. The idol also uses thousands of litres of paint which contains heavy metals and chemicals. “This is troublesome and adds burden on the water bodies,” noted Dr Krishan Khairnar, scientist with National Environmental Enginee-ring Research Institute (NEERI). The eco-friendly immersions are catching up in the city. Currently, the Kavadiguda Ganesh is made of hay and clay and wooden logs.

“GHMC officials, politicians and celebrities are switching over to clay Ganeshas. Now residents also should follow suit and immerse them within the colony premises,” says Mr Krishna Kaza, a resident of Nallagandala and an environmentalist.

“Devotees must consider a thematic immersion,” added Dr Khairnar.