HYDERABAD: Amid protests over Ganesh idol immersion arrangements, the city departments on Tuesday finalised the action plan for September 9. The immersion would be held in about 60 waterbodies including the Hussainsagar and the Saroornagar lake and 74 artificial ponds.
In order to prevent the immersion of plaster of Paris (PoP) idols in the Hussainsagar lake officials have put up 12 km of double-layered barricading around the Hussainsagar. Over 20,000 personnel from all the city departments will be deployed for the immersion procession which may stretch up to September 10.
Authorities have deployed 98 cranes at most of the immersion spots, where the 303.30 km of processions would end. Officials said watch towers would be erected to keep an eye on the crowds and respond quickly where needed.
According to the highly placed sources in the GHMC, the immersion procedures will be held like every year. Based on the situation, the authorities would deploy cranes at the lakes since it would be almost impossible to stop people if they headed for the waterbodies.
As per the final plan made by the city authorities, the GHMC would deploy 253 23-member Ganesh Action Teams (GAT), one every 3 km to 4 km. The teams would be divided to work across three shifts.
The HMDA would clear the idol remains from the Hussainsagar by deploying 1,000 people. The HMWS&SB would set up 122 drinking water camps. The fire department would station 38 fire tenders and four boats at Saroornagar, Kapra and Pragathinagar lakes. The tourism department will deploy nine boats in the Hussainsagar.
The electricity department will set up 48 transformers around Hussainsagar and five around Saroornagar apart from installing 101 transformers to illuminate 48,179 lights along the procession route at a cost of `24.3 crore. About 20,000 police personnel will be deployed during the immersion day. Field staff from all the city departments will be present from 6 am on September 9 until the completion of the immersion process.
