HYDERABAD: To compile data on the approximate number of Ganesh idols immersed in Hussainsagar, teams under the supervision of Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) have been stationed at all immersion points that ring the lake here on Wednesday.

Nearly 100 volunteers drawn from APPCB, National Green Corps and some other Government departments were deployed for the purpose. These personnel were imparted training on Tuesday at the District Collectorate and provided with data sheets to fill in.

The parameters

According to officials, their job was to record the height of each idol being immersed in the lake and also the colours used. Different categories of heights, such as less than 1 metre, less than 2 metres and so on, have been provided to fill in the data while the colour column notes down whether natural colour or chemical paint was used for the idols.

"Two volunteers with a supervisor are stationed at each of the 23 cranes and they are on the job since immersion began," said K.V. Rao, APPCB Social Scientist. The inputs are expected to provide a broad picture about the total idols immersed from these points, height of the idols and colours used.

Also, the APPCB has been collecting daily water samples from different points of the lake to study the heavy metal presence. The exercise was taken up from August 25 and is expected to continue till the last idol is immersed on Thursday.

This was aimed at trying to study the change pattern in the presence of heavy metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium during immersion.

"The samples will be sent to the laboratory for analysis and a report is expected to be ready by September second week," Mr. Rao said.

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