Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Thursday directed the state government and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation ensure that only natural colours are used in painting of Ganesh idols.
A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Dilip B. Bhosale and Justice P. Naveen Rao was dealing with a plea seeking to protect the Hussainsagar lake from pollution and also direct authorities not to allow immersion of idols in the lake.
The bench asked the GHMC to explain to idol makers the hazards caused to the environment due to use of artificial colours and Plaster of Paris to make the idols.
The court told the GHMC to ensure that clay is used in making the idols instead of POP and also take up publicity campaign against use of artificial colours and POP in making of idols.
Counsel for the GHMC Kesava Rao submitted that the corporation was taking steps to build enclosures for immersion of idols in lakes of the city and also making seeking of permission mandatory to install idols over 15 foot tall.
Responding to the submission, the bench said competition in installation of huge idols cannot be allowed.
Mahender Reddy, special counsel for the government submitted that the government has already released funds for using natural colours in making the idols.
Telling the GHMC to coordinate with the Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samiti for installation of idols less than 15 foot tall in the forthcoming Ganesh festival, the bench adjourned the case to July 4.
Stay on merger of gram panchayats
Justice Challa Kodandaram of the Hyderabad High Court on Thursday stayed the decision of the TS government to merge Chengicherla and Boduppal gram panchayats and notify the Boduppal Municipality.
The judge was dealing with a plea by D. Veerachary and J. Padma, MPTC members of Boduppal gram panchayat challenging the two GOs pursuant to the decision.
Counsel for the petitioners S. Satyam Reddy contended that since there was no elected gram panchayat for Boduppal the government's decision to de-notify it without notice was illegal.
Taking into consideration the petitioner's argument, the judge granted interim order by suspending the impugned GOs and posted the case to after summer vacation.
