BGUS raises concerns over Ganesh immersion arrangements in Hyderabad

The Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samithi has expressed dissatisfaction over arrangements for the September 25 Ganesh immersion procession in Hyderabad. It alleged a lack of clarity from GHMC and police and opposed restrictions on immersion at Kapra Lake without alternative arrangements.

Hyderabad: The Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samithi (BGUS) expressed strong dissatisfaction over the arrangements made by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and the Hyderabad City Police for the upcoming 47th grand Ganesh immersion procession in the city.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, BGUS general secretary Ravinuthala Shashidhar said despite only three days left for Ganesh Chaturthi, GHMC and police department has not disclosed information regarding Ganesh idols immersion arrangements. Both wings were only issuing paper statements on the arrangements only, he said.

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Shashidhar alleged that police restricted DJ sound systems, seized music bands, registered bind-over cases against BGUS members and attacked them during the recent Ganesh Agamanam events. He said the police would be responsible for any untoward incident.

The BGUS general secretary accused the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (Hydraa) of overstepping its limits by restricting Ganesh idol immersion at Kapra Lake without making alternative arrangements. Around 6,000 idols are immersed in the lake annually.

Clearing the confusion on the immersion date, Shashidhar said it would be held on September 25 (Anantha Chaturdashi).

Last year, around 1.40 lakh Ganesh idols were immersed in Vinayak Sagar (Hussain Sagar) and 110 baby ponds, a BGUS member said, adding that over 50 lakh devotees were expected to take part in Ganesh idols immersion this year.

Further, the BGUS has decided to unfurl the national flag and sing ‘Vande Mataram’ at all Ganesh pandals on September 17 on the occasion of Telangana Liberation Day. Necessary instructions have already been issued to all pandals across the State.