Hyderabad: Ganesh immersions to be spread out

Hyderabad: The Telangana state government on Monday informed the Hyderabad High Court that it was taking steps to decentralise Ganesh immersion in the city from this year.

The government, in an affidavit submitted before a division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Dilip B. Bhosale and Justice A.V. Sesha Sai, explained that it was contemplating to take up construction of ponds in lakes as per the Bengaluru model for immersion of idols up to eight feet height from this year. Though there was no mention about not allowing immersion in Hussainsagar in the affidavit, counsel appearing for the government made a categorical statement that the state was taking steps for not allowing immersions at the lake.

The government filed the affidavit in response to an order of the bench, which was dealing with a petition by city advocate M. Venu Madhav, complaining that the court’s orders on immersion were not being complied with.

Hyderabad High Court not to rule on idol height
The affidavit indicated that the government had been taking steps for constructing ponds in the city. Awareness programmes would be conducted to motivate and encourage people by involving utsav committees and residents’ associations for carrying out immersion of idols in the lakes identified nearby their localities.

When the petitioner sought a direction for restriction on the height of idols, the bench made it clear that it would not intervene and it was for the organisers and devotees to embark upon self-regulation in view of development of flyovers and the Metro project.

The bench pointed out that even Lord Ganesh would not appreciate if people caused hurdles to the development activities for the sake of height, and adjourned the case for 12 weeks.

Ganesh samiti insists on immersion at Tank Bund
The Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samiti has said that immersion at Tank Bund will continue as in previous years and no committee will abide by the suggestion of restricting the heights of Ganesh idols.

The permanent enclosures at Tank Bund and the other 10 lakes will only accommodate idols below 10 feet. Thus the Khairatabad Ganesh, which is the biggest at 58 feet, and other idols higher than 10 feet will be immersed as usual.

The samiti is against bureaucrats citing rulebooks and the court’s suggestion to curb the height of the idols. Sources said since the top officers have been unable to convince the organisers, Chief Minister K. Chandrasek-har Rao will intervene and hold a meeting with the Samiti members.

The two meetings between officials and Samiti members have ended in a stalemate. The samiti is of the opinion that the government and court can’t interfere as it is the fundamental right of citizens to worship freely and nowhere in the Constitution is there a provision to restrict the height of idols.

Officers have been trying to convince them that reducing the height of idols will not reduce their faith. They have also cited pollution issues post immersion.

Dr Bhagavanth Rao, general secretary of the Bhagyanagar Ganesh Ut-sav Samiti, said, “Ganesh immersion will continue in Hussainsagar. The High Court has stated that it will not be involved in height issues and is not ready to impose any restriction on immersion. It has directed the government to take all necessary steps for the immersion. No committee is willing to decrease the height, the festivities will be conducted as usual.”