Debris of Ganesh Idols Piled Up in Manakondur Tank
Fishermen also expressed concern over the impact on fishery resources, saying many families depended on the tank for their livelihood. They said there had been instances of fish dying.
Karimnagar: Large quantities of debris from Ganesh idols were found piled up in Manakondur Peddacheruvu, one of the main immersion points for idols from Karimnagar town and surrounding villages.
The tank is one of three major immersion points, with a majority of the idols, particularly large ones, being immersed there. Municipal authorities usually remove the debris after the immersion process. However, a large quantity of idol remains was left in the water body due to incomplete clearing last year.
To facilitate the immersion of idols scheduled for Wednesday, municipal authorities on Tuesday began removing the debris using a large poclain machine.
Iron material, bamboo and other materials used in the preparation of Plaster of Paris idols were found in the tank. Some idols had also not completely dissolved.
Farmers, fishermen and local residents expressed concern over pollution of the water body due to the prolonged presence of PoP idol remains.
The tank is spread over 400 acres, while different varieties of crops, particularly paddy, were being cultivated on about 600 acres using water from it. A villager, M. Narsaiah, said agricultural crops could be affected if water mixed with PoP was supplied to standing crops.
Fishermen also expressed concern over the impact on fishery resources, saying many families depended on the tank for their livelihood. They said there had been instances of fish dying.