Clay Ganesha drive in Guntur district
Pollution Control Board creates awareness in Guntur.
Guntur: Clay Ganesha campaign gained momentum in Guntur district. The Pollution Control Board officials on Sunday distributed clay Ganesha idols at a meager price of Rs 5 in Guntur, Tenali, Mangalagiri and Narasaraopet.
They have set up distribution counters at three different places in the city at Market centre, Lodge centre and Brundavan Gardens area. The initiative started by the Pollution Control Board was received well by the people. Around 2,000 idols were sold out by the afternoon in the city.
Even in the places other than Guntur, people opted for eco-friendly Ganesha Idols. The Pollution Control Board distributed 5,000 idols in the district. The PCB procured these idols from Tenali and Kolakaluru by paying '20 per idol. Women from Dwakra self-help groups prepared these idols. “We want to distribute these eco-friendly idols free but people are not willing to take it free. So, we fixed a nominal price of Rs 5,” said Mr M.V. Balasubramanyam, environmental engineer in PCB Guntur.
Meanwhile, AP Assembly Speaker Dr Kodela Sivaprasada Rao also joined Clay Ganesha Campaign by distributing around 20,000 idols through Kodela Satya-narayana Charitable Trust in Narasaraopet and Sattenapally.
Dr Kodela Sivaram Krishna, son of Mr Sivaprasada Rao, who oversaw the distribution of clay idols, told Deccan Chronicle that they are doing this as part of the many initiatives under Swacch Sattenapalli and Swacch Narasaraopet programme.
To prevent air and water pollution they have taken up a slogan that Lord Ganesha, who evolved from clay, should be worshiped with the clay, he said.
This is in continuation of the many programmes like building individual toilets, developing soaking pits, separate toilets for girl students in all schools and development of crematoriums that they have already taken up under the leadership of Dr Sivaprasada Rao.
Mr Sivaram Krishna further added that they will continue the eco-friendly initiatives in future as well to contribute their bit to the environment.