New Delhi: The Supreme Court has permitted immersion of Ganesh idol made of Plaster-of-Paris as part of Ganesh Chathurthi celebration in Telangana. The court permitted the immersion for the last time. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for the state assured that it will be symbolic and idols will be immediately lifted and transferred to the solid waste dumping site.
Chief Justice of India N. V. Ramana said that the court is not very happy with the government failing to adhere to the court's order regarding immersion. He observed that changes cannot be made at the last moment. The state government is asked to submit an affidavit in the apex court and a compliance report in the High Court. The SC also asked for an undertaking that no immersion will take place from next year. The matter was heard by CJI NV Ramana and Justice Surya Kant.
SG Mehta, appearing for the state submitted before the court that the celebrations are already ongoing and small immersions may already have started and big immersions will start from September 18. It will be a problem to stop people now, said SG.
Pulling up the state government, CJI Ramana said that Hussain Sagar lake was a drinking water body and due to pollution it cannot be used now. CJI also made remarks that a lot of money is spent on the purification of the lake. The SC asked what is the point of beautification or money spent on this if every year this immersion is allowed.
Telangana government moved the SC as the High Court refused to review its order imposing a ban on immersion of Ganesh idols made up of Plaster of Paris (POP) in Hussainsagar Lake. The High Court ordered the ban on September 9. Idol immersion was directed to done in 25 baby ponds, but concerns were raised that the ponds were small for huge idols to get immersed.
HC conducted an emergency trial on a review petition which was filed by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) commissioner, Lokesh Kumar. He had filed the petition to review the judgement and amend some points. Kumar requested the prohibition on the immersion of POP idols in the Hussain Sagar lake be lifted and that permission for immersion of idols be granted from the Tank bund road.
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