Kukatpally IDL Lake prepares for Ganesh immersion
HYDERABAD: HYDRAA is taking steps to ensure that Ganesh idol immersion at Kukatpally’s IDL Lake takes place without any difficulty. It is deepening a section of the lake along the main road and making arrangements to fill it with water so that thousands of idols can be immersed during the festival.
The agency is also taking steps to prevent wastewater from entering the lake and ensure that fresh water reaches the immersion area. More than 20 feet of waste-laden silt is being removed, allowing spring water to seep into the excavated portion.
HYDRAA is supplementing this natural inflow by arranging additional water. It is working to complete the arrangements before the immersion period.
HYDRAA commissioner A V Ranganath has already inspected IDL Lake and reviewed the arrangements for Ganesh immersion. He directed officials to ensure that the lake restoration work continues without disruption while making sufficient water available for immersion.
Local residents, Ganesh Utsav Committee representatives and local leaders, along with Kukatpally MLA Madhavaram Krishna Rao, met the commissioner and requested arrangements for the immersion.
Ranganath suggested bringing water from the remaining portion of the lake to the designated area to ensure there are no difficulties during immersion.
Excavation brings large quantities of waste to surface
Excavation at Kukatpally’s IDL Lake has brought large quantities of hazardous waste to the surface. Sewage inflow, plastic waste, Plaster of Paris (PoP), coconut fibre and other garbage have accumulated in large quantities.
The waste has settled at the bottom of the lake and prevented water from percolating into the ground. Removing and transporting the accumulated waste has now become a major challenge.
HYDRAA is taking steps through Ramky to remove and transport the waste without causing environmental damage.
PoP mainly contains calcium sulphate hemihydrate. When it comes into contact with water, it turns into gypsum and accumulates at the bottom, where it does not readily dissolve.
According to the agency, PoP entering IDL Lake over several decades has increased pollution and prevented groundwater recharge. Regular removal of garbage, plastic waste and PoP carried into the lake with sewage could have prevented the accumulation, but more than 20 feet of such material has now built up.
HYDRAA is removing the accumulated silt, estimated to run into lakhs of tonnes. Excavation is being carried out round the clock, with the lake being deepened along the main road to facilitate the inflow of water.
The agency is making all arrangements to ensure that the Ganesh immersion takes place without difficulty.
After the immersion, HYDRAA plans to remove the remaining silt and complete restoration of the 72-acre IDL Lake.
