HC wants public campaign for pollution-free Ganesh immersion

The Hyderabad High Court on Thursday took up the case of pollution on account of Ganesh immersion in the Hussainsagar lake in the heart of the city. The High Court felt that if the city also went the Bangalore way, the Hussainsagar would not be left polluted after the festivities. It advised the Telangana government to allot specific areas in the lake for immersion. The court said natural colours should be used for painting the idols, so pollution is contained. The height of the idols should also be reduced. For the purpose, a public campaign needs to be mounted. The government told the court that it had allotted Rs 5 crore for the preparation of natural colours. Bangalore too faces the pollution problem and all the 36 lakes in and around the city face immersion. The Karnataka State Pollution control Board had at least a dozen mobile immersion tanks in the city to help people with the immersions. Clay idols are encouraged to curb pollution there.