Officials gear up for Ganesh idol immersion at Dhamsalapuram tank in Khammam

Khammam district officials have made arrangements for Ganesh idol immersion at Dhamsalapuram tank after the Munneru dried up. Fishermen initially opposed the move over possible damage to fish farming but consented after officials assured compensation and measures to remove debris.

Khammam: As the river Munneru dried up due to lack of rains under the impact of El Niño, the district administration geared up for immersion of idols at Dhamsalapuram tank amid opposition from fishermen.

Every year, the immersion of Ganesh idols takes place in Munneru at different locations in the city. This time, the officials decided to make arrangements for idol immersion at Dhamsalapuram tank in the city.

---

However, the office-bearers of Kothagudem Fishermen’s Society, Mudraboina Appa Rao, Pagadala Mallesh and others opposed immersion of idols in Dhamsalapuram Pedda Cheruvu, where fish farming is currently underway.

The immersion of idols made of Plaster of Paris could kill the fish, jeopardising the livelihood of around 80 families who had invested around Rs 1 crore in fish farming. An alternative site should be designated; if immersion in the tank is unavoidable, compensation must be paid to the fishermen, they insisted.

When contacted, the district fisheries officer A Mallesham told Telangana Today that the district Collector Divakara TS and other officials held a meeting with the society members on Sunday to address their concerns.

An assurance was given to them on compensating for any loss, as well as removing hyacinth and idols’ debris from the tank and stopping drainage water from entering it. Following the assurance, the society members consented to idol immersion, he noted.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police Sunil Dutt informed that tight security arrangements have been put in place to ensure smooth immersion of around 2,700 Ganesh idols across Khammam district on September 23. Around 1,200 personnel drawn from the police, forest, and excise departments, as well as the NCC and NSS, would be engaged in duties on the day along with heavy-duty cranes.

Medical camps would be set up at every immersion point, while sanitation staff would be deployed in shifts to ensure cleanliness. A route map and traffic advisory have already been released, he added.

In Kothagudem, the immersion of idols would take place in the river Godavari at Bhadrachalam. The river received inflows in view of recent rains in its upper catchment.