15 more immersion tanks

The GHMC has built 15 new immersion tanks in the city, bringing the total number of ponds available for Ganesh visarjan to 25. This has been done with the intention of diverting idols that would otherwise have been immersed in the Hussainsagar. It will also help in reducing the traffic at Tank Bund during immersion.

In 2016, a total of 3,000 idols, most of which were below 15 feet in height, were immersed in the tanks constructed by the GHMC. Before that, almost all idols used to be immersed in the Hussainsagar. This year, the law and order forces expect about 17,000 large idols to be immersed in the Hussainsagar, and all other idols to be immersed in the tanks.

Y. Shekar Reddy, the superintendent engineer of the GHMC irrigation department, said, “Twenty-five lakes have been constructed in Hyderabad, similar to the Bengaluru Ulsoor lake model. This is in keeping with the directions issued by the High Court to prevent the pollution of water bodies. After the Ganesh visarjan, these tanks can be used for Bakthuamma and other rituals. The tanks can accommodate idols below 15 feet in height, and they will be open on all immersion days. This will decentralise the immersion process.”

Water will be pumped into these tanks from the adjoining lakes. After the immersions, the polluted water will be pumped out into the sewage line and the silt will be cleared by heavy vehicles.