KURNOOL — The streets typically buzz with devotion during Vinayaka Chaturthi, but this year, a harsh reality shadows the festivities. Industries and Commerce Minister T.G. Bharath Gupta has made an emotional appeal: opt for smaller clay idols. Why? The water isn’t there.

Key facts

  • Minister T.G. Bharath Gupta urges small clay idols for Vinayaka Chaturthi due to water shortage
  • Tungabhadra River and local water bodies nearly dried up from El Nino effect
  • Kurnool’s Ganesh festivities are second only to Hyderabad in scale in the region
  • ₹2.04 crore in development works funded by National Clean Air Programme initiated

A City Thirsts for Solutions

The river Tungabhadra and all other water bodies passing through the city have almost dried up due to the El Nino effect. It’s a stark scene — where flowing waters once welcomed immersions, now cracked earth stretches under the sun. The Kurnool-Cuddapah Canal, the traditional site for idol immersions, sits empty. At a meeting on Saturday, the Sri Ganesh Mahotsavam Kendra Samithi, Municipal Commissioner Challa Obulesu, and irrigation officials faced the grim facts together.

Minister’s Plea: Adapt with Heart

Mr. Bharath’s voice carried the weight of practicality and empathy. “I can understand the sentiments of the people,” he said, acknowledging the deep cultural ties to the festival. But hope is thin. “Unless a miracle happens and Tungabhadra river receives inflows, there is no possibility of immersing the idols.” Water slated for Handri-Neeva by September 14 is reserved strictly for drinking — a necessity in these parched times.

“Instal clay idols of half, one or one-and-half feet only,” he appealed.

His message was clear: scale down, not spirit down. For those who already purchased larger idols, the Corporation will provide storage, with a promise of grander celebrations next year.

Broader Implications

The water crisis stretches beyond the festival. The State Cabinet discussed El Nino conditions, prioritizing drinking water and even announcing a crop holiday — a painful step for an agricultural region. Meanwhile, Mr. Bharath laid foundation for ₹2.04 crore in city development works, funded by the National Clean Air Programme, hinting at longer-term resilience efforts amid immediate challenges.