Tanks go dry, immersions to be hit

Tirupati: This time, water shortage in hundreds of water bodies would become a major issue for immersion of one lakh Lord Ganesh idols across the district for the ensuing Ganesh Chaturthi festival to be celebrated on September 13. In Tirupati city alone, it is estimated that more than 1,000 Ganesh idols up to a height of 10 feet to be installed by various festival committees. About 20,000 idols would be set up by the households.

Immersion likely to become difficult as tanks in and around the temple city have dried up. Every time, Tirupati Varasiddi Vinayaka Utsava Committee (TVVUC) was conducting the immersion activity at Vinayaka Sagar Tank. As part of tank renovation, irrigation officials have already pumped out water. Recently, TVVUC members have visited the tank and expressed concern over non-availability of water in the tank.

They requested the officials to fill the Vinayaka Sagar Tank with tankers. But, officials say it is impossible to fill the tank with water up to a maximum depth by using tankers. Tirupati, Madanapalle and Chittoor divisions are facing severe drought conditions for the last four months. So far, minus rainfall was recorded in the district in the month of August and in the first week of September. Around 90 per cent of minor and medium irrigation tanks have dried up. 

To resolve the issue, officials of the civic body and Irrigation department are jointly searching for water bodies with water for immersion of Ganesh idols. Speaking to, Municipal Corporation of Tirupati (MCT) Executive Engineer B Chandrashekar said the officials are looking out for water bodies with water for immersion of idols. TVVUC member P Naveen Kumar Reddy expressed anguish over water shortage in tanks.