HYDERABAD: The nightmares of volunteers working to clean up the Kapra lake came alive with the GHMC demolishing the compost pits to facilitate the immersion of Ganesha idols. The GHMC had earlier said it would not demolish them. Angry residents said the manure that had been painstakingly built in the compost had turned useless, and all their efforts had come to nought.
IICT's Prof. K.L.N. Raju, one of the volunteers, said the demolition had been forced on the GHMC by the police. "We have invested as much as Rs 50 lakh for the entire process of converting hyacinth in the lake to manure. During the demolition of the pits, as much as ten tonnes of manure were wasted," Prof. Raju said.
Helpless residents took to social media to vent their anger. "Damn you for demolishing the hard work of a 62-yr-old man. U acted as Vinashakas. Mindless action by a dead, dumb and blind bureaucracy. Seriously. U break a sustainable product so that some drunk a***** can throw 10ft ganeshas into a lake? (sic)" one of them said.
GHMC Deputy Commissioner Yadagiri said, "We had to demolish those pits to facilitate the arrangements (for the immersion of idols). Police officials had suggested this measure for the ease of immersion process. We will construct the new compost pits and give it to the volunteers soon."
