Corporation to fill city lakes for idol immersions

Coimbatore: With most city lakes running dry, the Coimbatore Corporation has stepped in to fill up the tanks for idol immersion after the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.
It will also clean riverbeds, where idols of Lord Ganesha will be immersed, besides setting up small tanks across the city. The civic body said it has already started works on small tanks in locations such as Vellakinaru and Kuniyamuthur.
Near Vellakinaru, residents have dug up a 30ft pit spread across 400sqft area near a pond that had gone dry many years ago."We have no other choice but to dig up the pit," said a resident. They have warned the villagers against dumping waste in the pit as it is meant for immersion of idols of Lord Ganesha.
The corporation would supply water trucks to these areas from September 1 and fill them up till September 5. Even at Kuniyamuthur, work has begun to set up a makeshift tank as the water level in the Kurichi lake has gone down. Inspector Murugeshan of Kuniyamuthur said two pits will be dug in the locality. "We have informed the civic body officials, who will set up barricades and lights in the area," Murugeshan said.
Since the water level in Singanallur lake is also low, officials have allowed only nine idol immersions there. "Idols will be mostly immersed in Muthanan Kulam in R S Puram, Ukkadam Periyakulam and Kurichi lake," officials said.
The city police have so far given permission for 380 idol installations. As per Hindu Munnani, a religious and cultural organisation, 197 idols would be installed in the city limits alone and 258 in rural district. "In Thondamuthur and Perur areas, 127 idols of Lord Ganesha will be installed," said a Hindu Munnani representative. The outfit said it was hopeful of rainfall in the next few days, increasing the water level in city lakes.
Meanwhile, a city resident urged people to immerse the clay idol in a bucket of water. "I picked up this habit in Bengaluru and I have been advocating this in Coimbatore as well. If others follow this, it will help preserve the lakes. Also, we can save water as the city is already facing water supply crisis," Sripriya said.
Kalidasan of Osai, an environmental organisation, said the water level in all the seven lakes in the city, where idols are usually immersed, was low.
"The district didn't receive adequate rainfall this monsoon. If people opt for small clay idols, they could help conserve the lakes, where many migratory birds have arrived. The chemicals form the idol paints might contaminate the lake water and affect the birds," he said.