Noise levels in many areas of the city seem to touch disturbing levels, complain residents living in areas abutting lakes which are selected for idol immersion.
Preparations have been made at 24 lakes across GHMC to immerse idols, besides artificial immersion ponds abutting water bodies. To complement GHMC’s efforts, several policemen have been deployed across the city to ensure that revelries do not cause problems to residents of neighbourhoods through which the procession passes. However, residents say that despite police pressure on procession organisers, loud music and instrument bands continue to create nuisance.
“The movement of processions through our area, mainly in the night, is highly disturbing. Instead of quickly and constantly moving towards the Kapra lake, people who are part of processions halt at several places on the road to dance to loud music,” said Sridhar Rao, a resident of Sainikpuri.
The police administration maintains that pandal organisers have been warned against causing disturbance. That apart, complaints are being addressed by patrol teams, they add. While residents fear the sound levels may further increase on Tuesday, cops assure that they will have the situation under control and will promptly address complaints.
Setting a trend
Setting a trend
To set a trend that may help bring down pollution of water bodies, the Khairatabad Ganesh idol is likely to be made of clay next year onwards.
The committee is reportedly making plans to build an idol, bigger than the present year, made of clay in 2018. This was revealed by one of the office-bearers of Ganesh Utsav Samithi, that has for over 60 years been installing idols of record sizes. The Samithi’s officials believe that an idol larger than this year’s 57-foot one, which will be last to be immersed early on Wednesday, is possible with clay.
GHMC Mayor Bonthu Rammohan said he hoped that the samithi’s move would popularise clay idols. Over 50,000 idols are immersed in the lake every year.