HYDERABAD: An upcoming homam, scheduled at NTR Stadium from January 21 to 28 has drawn the attention of residents and environmental activists about the use of 25,000 kg of red chillis as offerings in the ‘Koti Pratyangira Mahayagam’. They are planning to move the court against the event.
Organised by the Sri Siddheswari Peetham, of Courtallam in Tirunelveli of Tamil Nadu, which has over a decade-and-a-half presence in Hyderabad, the ritual will be performed to invoke the blessings of ‘Ammavaru’ deity. The ritual will be held for eight days, from 7 pm, as part of Sri Siddheswarananda Bharathi Swami’s birthday celebrations.
Officials of the pollution control board said that the residential areas of LIC Colony, Banda Maisamma Nagar and Gudala Basti will not suffer pollution as they did not house high-rise buildings.
Telangana state Pollution Control Board’s senior social scientist Dr W.G. Prasanna Kumar said, “The NTR stadium is under the permissible levels of the pollution. This upcoming homam, where 25,000 kg of chillis will be put into fire pits, may not cause any pollution as this ground is in the open areas, and the surroundings are not having any high-rise buildings.”
However, environmental activists and residents were in an uproar.
Environmental activist Mamidi Venu Madhav said the ritual was a serious concern of pollution and inconvenience to residents of the surrounding areas. “25,000 kg is a big amount of chillis. When it is put into the fire, it will definitely emit large quantities of smoke. This will surely cause the pollution, damaging the environment. Surrounding residents will definitely suffer.”
He said, “We will file a PIL and take the court’s directions in stopping the pollution.”
