Minister urges use of small clay idols for Vinayaka Chaturthi amid water shortage in Kurnool
The river Tungabhadra and all other water bodies passing through the city have almost dried up due to the El Nino effect; Bharath says that he can understand the sentiments of the people, but the circumstances were not favourable for immersing bigger idols
Industries and Commerce Minister T.G. Bharath Gupta has called on Ganesh pandal organizers to use smaller clay idols for the forthcoming Vinayaka Chaturthi festival in Kurnool due to a lack of water in the Kurnool-Cuddapah Canal. The Kurnool Vinayaka Chaturthi celebrations are second only to those in Hyderabad. The Tungabhadra River and other local water bodies have almost dried up due to the El Nino effect.
The Sri Ganesh Mahotsavam Kendra Samithi, Kurnool Municipal Corporation Commissioner Challa Obulesu, and irrigation officials met to discuss the issue. Mr. Gupta stated that there is no chance of water flowing into the canal in the near future. "Unless a miracle happens and Tungabhadra river receives inflows, there is no possibility of immersing the idols," he emphasized.
The available water after September 14 would be used only for drinking purposes, and the State Cabinet had acknowledged the El Nino conditions. The Minister acknowledged the people's sentiments but acknowledged that the conditions were unfavorable for immersing larger idols. He urged organizers to install clay idols of half, one, or one-and-a-half feet only.
Those who had purchased larger idols could store them in the Corporation-provided space. Mr. Gupta assured that the festivities would be grand next year. Meanwhile, Mr. Gupta also laid the foundation stone for several development projects in the city, valued at ₹2.04 crore, funded by the National Clean Air Programme.
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