Minister urges use of small clay idols for Vinayaka Chaturthi

Industries and Commerce Minister T.G. Bharath Gupta has appealed to the Ganesh pandal organisers to install clay idols of small size for the upcoming Vinayaka Chaturthi festival due to insufficient water in the Kurnool-Cuddapah (K-C) Canal, where the Ganesh idols are immersed every year.

The Ganesh festivities in Kurnool are second only to those in Hyderabad in undivided Andhra Pradesh. After bifurcation, Kurnool is the only city where centralised immersion procession of the idols takes places on a massive scale.

The river Tungabhadra and all other water bodies passing through the city have almost dried up due to the El Nino effect. The Sri Ganesh Mahotsavam Kendra Samithi, along with Kurnool Municipal Corporation Commissioner Challa Obulesu and irrigation officials, held a meeting on Saturday to discuss the issue.

Mr. Bharath asserted that there was no possibility of water flowing into the K-C canal in the coming days. “Unless a miracle happens and Tungabhadra river receives inflows, there is no possibility of immersing the idols,” he said.

“Though water would be released into the Handri-Neeva by September 14, that water would be used for drinking purposes only. We have discussed the El Nino conditions in the State Cabinet as well and use the available water solely for drinking purposes. We give top priority to farmers and agriculture, but this time we were forced to announce a crop holiday due to the extreme conditions,” he said.

Mr. Bharath said that he could understand the sentiments of the people, but the circumstances were not favourable for immersing bigger idols. “Instal clay idols of half, one or one-and-half feet only,” he appealed.

The Minister said that those who already bought bigger idols can safely store them at the place provided by the Corporation. “We will conduct the festivities on a grand scale next year,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Bharath laid foundation for various development works in the city worth ₹2.04 crore, funded by the National Clean Air Programme (NACP).