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Hyderabad: Kapra lake's 28 compost pits built by locals may be razed

They also requested residents not to immerse their Ganesh idols in the lake as the water contained sewage.

Hyderabad: After locals and the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) built 28 compost pits at the Kapra lake to convert the water hyacinth into manure, residents are worried that the GHMC might demolish structures for the immersion of Ganesh idols.

Residents of Kapra and Sainikpuri have started a social media campaign against the proposed move to demolish the structures, which was communicated to them by Kushaiguda police officials. They also requested residents not to immerse their Ganesh idols in the lake as the water contained sewage. They suggested that the clay from the idols could be used to plant trees.

Mrs Gulshan Bamboat said on Twitter: “The Kapra Composting Pits are in peril! We have to raise our voices shrill! Do tell the Rachakonda Top Cop! The demolition of them, please stop! Sincere work for the betterment of our lake, please don't kill! (sic)”

Prof. K.L.N. Raju of IICT, who played a key role in designing and maintaining the compost pits, said they had removed around 8,000 tons of water hyacinth and were making two kinds of vermicompost from the stems and leaves and from the roots.

“Now, if these pits are demolished all our effort, time, money and energy will go in vain. We don't want that to happen," Prof. Raju said. Asked about the residents’ concerns, Kushaiguda inspector N. Venkata Ramana said, “The compost pits are just beside the lake. On an average 3,000 to 4,000 Ganesh idols are immersed in the lake and it would become difficult for the vehicles to move with the compost pits in place.”

He said the decision on whether to demolish the pits will be taken by the GHMC and the irrigation department. “They are still thinking about this," Mr Ramana said.

The GHMC denied that it planned to demolish the structures. GHMC deputy commissioner Yadagiri said, "We have inspected the site, we do not have any plans to demolish the pits. We have seen how useful they can be and we will make sure they won't be disturbed while making arrangements for the immersion.”

Ms Deepa Shailender, a resident who actively participated in the cleaning of the lake, appealed against allowing heavy vehicles to enter the lake premises. She said they should be parked on the High Tension Road so that the pits won't be disturbed.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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