Hyderabad: Supreme Court green signals immersion of POP Ganesh idols in Hussain Sagar

The Supreme Court on Thursday accorded green signal for the immersion of POP Ganesh idols in Hussain Sagar. The apex court further observed that the permission has been accorded only for this year.

The bench comprising of Chief Justice of India Justice NV Ramana dealt with the plea filed by the GHMC commissioner after the Telangana high court refused to allow the immersion of the POP idols in Hussain Sagar. "It is not a new concern in Hyderabad and the idols are being immersed in the Hussain Sagar for the last several years. Doesn't it have an alternate way? The attitude of the government is not satisfactory and this is last chance," the court said.

The Supreme Court also observed that the government has been spending huge money for the beautification works of Hussain Sagar and by doing such things all the money spent on it will go in vain.

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta appearing for the state government said that 22 artificial ponds have been readied for immersion, however, the giant idols could not be immersed in the ponds. He further asked the court give an exception this year. On the other hand, petitioner Venu Madhav argued that similar concerns are being told by the government every year.

Hearing both the arguments, the Supreme Court permitted the immersion of idols in Hussain Sagar only for this year and further directed the government to submit an affidavit assuring that no polluting programmes such as idol immersion should be carried in the future.