HYDRAA Says No Ganesh Immersion At Kapra Lake, Suggests Baby Pond For Smaller Idols
HYDRAA has barred Ganesh idol immersion at Kapra Lake, citing its ecological importance, and suggested a nearby baby pond for smaller idols.
The HYDRAA stated that Ganesh idol immersions would not be carried out in Kapra lake, citing the lake’s ecological importance and its role as an urban wetland. HYDRAA commissioner A.V. Ranganath, who inspected ongoing development works at the 113-acre Kapra lake on Saturday, said that the water body was not merely a source of water but an important part of Hyderabad’s environmental balance.
Ranganath explained the issue to representatives of the Bhagyanagar Utsav Committee, and urged them to cooperate with efforts to protect the lake’s biodiversity. He suggested that the baby pond near the lake could be used for immersing smaller Ganesh idols. For larger idols, he asked the organisers to make alternative arrangements instead of using Kapra lake.
HYDRAA stated that Kapra lake has been identified by the Centre as an urban wetland, and was an important habitat for migratory birds. The lake is said to attract more than 470 species of migratory birds from different parts of the world, including Australia and Europe.
Ranganath, who was accompanied by Uppal zonal commissioner Radhika Gupta and HYDRAA ACP Uma Maheshwar Rao, said the lake was being developed with a focus on flood-water storage, groundwater recharge, biodiversity and the protection of bird habitats. He said protecting these ecological functions was a shared responsibility. He also pointed out that around 70 per cent of the lake area was privately held patta land; landowners had come forward to support the lake’s development.
Members of the Kapra Lake Revival Group also met Ranganath during his inspection, and urged him to develop the lake fully while protecting its natural environment.
