Industries and Commerce Minister T.G. Bharath Gupta has appealed to Ganesh festival organisers in Kurnool to install smaller clay idols for the upcoming Vinayaka Chaturthi celebrations. The appeal comes amid a severe shortage of water in the Kurnool-Cuddapah Canal, which is traditionally used for immersing Ganesh idols after the festival. Bharath said the prevailing conditions made it difficult to accommodate large idols during the immersion process.

The minister acknowledged the religious sentiments associated with the festival but urged organisers to consider the shortage of water while planning celebrations. He said people’s devotion and traditions were understandable, but the circumstances were currently unfavourable for the immersion of larger idols. He appealed to organisers to cooperate with the administration by opting for smaller idols made of clay.

Water levels in the Tungabhadra River and other water bodies passing through Kurnool have also fallen sharply. Officials have attributed the situation to the impact of the El Nino weather pattern, which has contributed to unfavourable water conditions in the region. The drying of local water sources has raised concerns about managing large-scale immersion activities during the festival.

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Ganesh celebrations in Kurnool are among the most prominent in the region and have traditionally involved large public idols and a centralised immersion procession. The city has gained particular importance for its large-scale celebrations following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. The annual procession attracts large numbers of devotees and requires significant arrangements for crowd management, traffic regulation and idol immersion.

With water availability now posing an additional challenge, the minister's appeal is aimed at ensuring that the festival can be conducted without putting further pressure on limited water resources. The use of smaller clay idols could also make the immersion process easier to manage under the prevailing conditions. Organisers are expected to take the water shortage into consideration while finalising the size and material of idols for the celebrations.

The appeal highlights the need to balance religious traditions with the practical challenges created by water scarcity. Bharath has urged Ganesh pandal organisers to cooperate with the authorities and adopt smaller clay idols for the festival. The administration's focus is expected to remain on ensuring a smooth immersion process while conserving the limited water resources available in and around Kurnool.

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