Kurnool all set for Ganesh idol immersion amid water shortages, says Bharath

Industries and Commerce Minister T.G. Bharath Gupta said that all arrangements were being made to conduct the Ganesh idol immersion in Kurnool on a grand scale. Mr. Bharath inspected the arrangements for the immersion process at Vinayaka Ghat along the K-C Canal and the Handri-Neeva tanks near Nannur toll plaza on Sunday.

He enquired with officials on the availability of water, security, and infrastructure and directed them to to make all necessary arrangements. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Bharath noted that the water storage level at the Sunkesula Barrage is currently at a historic low of 0.288 tmcft, which has not been seen in the past 20 years.

Due to this, it is not feasible to release water directly from the Sunkesula Barrage into the K-C Canal for immersion this year, the Minister said, adding that the administration has focused on alternative arrangements for immersion.

He said that walls were being constructed on both sides of the K-C Canal at the Vinayaka Ghat to create a tank-like structure for water storage. The Minister explained that measures were being taken to divert approximately 2 million litres of water, which currently goes to waste from the pump house to the K-C Canal, and store it in a specially constructed tank at Vinayaka Ghat.

Mr. Bharath said that the Kurnool Municipal Corporation (KMC) was also arranging heavy vehicles and other necessary facilities. Noting that the water flow in the Handri-Neeva project has been good so far, he mentioned that a continuous flow is likely to be maintained during the immersion as well.

The Minister suggested that members of the Vinayaka immersion committee inspect the KC- Canal and the Handri-Neeva area near the Nannur toll gate. He stated that the final plan for the immersion would be formulated based on the committee members’ inspection and their decision.