TS to hold fest if there is consensus: Minister

Ganesh Samiti against restrictions on height of idols

Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav on Saturday on Saturday convened a meeting with DGP M. Mahendar Reddy, municipal administration and urban development principal secretary Arvind Kumar, GHMC commissioner D.S. Lokesh Kumar along with city ministers and MLAs to discuss the holding of Ganesh festivities which would begin on August 22.

Yadav said that the state government has been holding Ganesh festivities with pomp and gaiety every year but the Covid-19 pandemic had caused a peculiar situation this year. He said the government is ready to hold the festivities if a unanimous decision is made. He said the government would ensure all Covid-19 guidelines are implemented, and would start extensive awareness campaigns pertaining to the celebrations. Bhagyanagar Ganesh Samiti chief secretary Bhagavanth Rao raised a few objections. He said that the city police without the notice of civil society had issued notices to several Ganesh pandal organisers restricting the height of idols.

“Who restricted the height of the idol to three feet and on whose instructions,” he asked and added, “There will not be any height restriction.” He said the samiti would convince people to “adjust” the size of the idol for hassle-free immersion.

Rao said that as on Saturday, the BUS has decided the Khairatabad Ganesh idol will be a minimum of six feet. The Khairatabad committee has previously said that the idol would be nine feet. Based on the immersion arrangements and the government’s decision the height would be increased. He said that a final decision on immersion routes, police, GHMC and Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board arrangements would be decided on Wednesday.