Alka Verma –
Published On: September 17, 2021, at 10:20 IST
Providing ‘One Last Time’ relaxation to Telangana Government, Supreme Court allowed immersion of Ganesh Idols in the Hussain Sagar Lake in Hyderabad city, post Ganpati Puja celebrations.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana, Justice Surya Kant and Justice Hima Kohli passed the Order while dealing with a Petition filed by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.
The petition was filed challenging the order of the Telangana High Court.
The High Court in its Order banned the immersion of Ganesh Idols in the Hussain Sagar Lake and also refused to review or change its Order.
The Apex Court only allowed the immersion because of its symbolic value and also criticized the Government for its action.
“The Government should have taken care while allowing statues of such heights and use of PoP (Plaster of Paris) should have been prohibited in the beginning itself. We are not happy with government action also. Now at the last minute, impossible things also we can’t ask them to implement,” stated the CJI.
The Bench also asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, “Once upon a time, the water in the lake was used for drinking. That time passed long ago. Now, I believe, a lot of money was spent on beautification… If the water is polluted again, won’t it be a waste of the money spent on the beautification?”
Solicitor General Mehta contending on behalf of the Government stated, “Huge cranes would be on standby, would immediately take these idols out for disposal at a solid waste.”
Mehta also stated that the High Court Order came in between the celebrations and it is difficult for the State to implement all the measures in such short time period.
Further Mehta added, “There is a dearth of time, minimum pollution will be caused to Hussain Sagar Lake. The idols will be immediately lifted and taken to a landfill for disposal.”
Taking this all into consideration, the Supreme Court granted relaxation for one last time and allowed the immersion for this year.
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