This year, 15,000 idols were immersed in the Hussainsagar
Hyderabad: The Hussainsagar lake alone received 3,500 metric tonnes of festival waste over two days. This is equivalent to the amount of garbage generated in the entire city in one day. Though the environmental body of HMDA is dredging out the solid waste (idols), the chemical pollutants namely arsenic, lead and mercury and other paints and varnishes remain in the water disturbing the ecological equilibrium. The dissolved oxygen level in the lake, which took a year to increase by a small percentage, will now drop again, said experts. The official records reveal that the NTR Marg and the Tank Bund area are now the most polluted segments. This year, 15,000 idols were immersed in the Hussainsagar.
Professor A. Vijay Kumar, a Kendriya Vidyalaya teacher who conducted a survey in 2013, said, “Various poisonous chemicals, that are present in paints and varnishes used on the idols, have contaminated the lake. Different paints are used to decorate the idols made of Plaster-of-Paris that contains gypsum, sulphur, phosphorous, magnesium and other components like iron mesh and rods.”
“The chemical pollutants dissolve in the water and significantly alter the lake composition. It leads to considerable increase in the concentration of toxic elements namely arsenic, lead and mercury,” added Dr M. Vikram Reddy, an expert on lakes. Before the immersion process the BBP officials conducted a sampling test of the lake water quality, and the percentage of dissolved oxygen recorded was 4 mg. In 2013, it was 2mg. However, BPP officials claim that there will not be much of a difference in water quality, as the idols are being removed before they dissolve completely.
