Hyderabad Sets Up 74 Artificial Ponds for Eco-Friendly Ganesh Idol Immersion
Ahead of the Ganesh festival, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has established 74 artificial ponds across the city to facilitate eco-friendly idol immersions. The initiative, which includes portable tanks, excavated ponds, and smaller "baby ponds," aims to decentralize immersion activities, reduce pollution in major lakes like Hussainsagar, and ensure smoother festival management. Each site will be equipped with cranes and sanitation staff to assist devotees and manage the process efficiently.
Unpacked:
Artificial ponds are used to reduce pollution in major lakes such as Hussainsagar, which have suffered severe water quality degradation from idol immersions and other sources of waste, including heavy metals, chemicals, and plastics that harm aquatic life and water quality.
Idol immersions in Hussainsagar have caused increased pollution, including elevated levels of suspended solids, heavy metals, chemical residues, and non-biodegradable material. This pollution leads to oxygen depletion, algal blooms, harm to aquatic organisms, and loss of the lake's self-purification capacity.
The GHMC equips each artificial pond with cranes to safely submerge idols, assigns sanitation staff to manage waste, and uses portable and excavated tanks to contain pollutants, preventing them from entering natural water bodies. These measures support efficient festival management and environmental protection.
Authorities have implemented sewage treatment plants, monitored water quality, and conducted awareness campaigns about pollution. However, persistent issues like untreated sewage, leakage from drains, and festival waste continue to challenge improvement efforts.