Kurnool to Store Large Ganesh Idols for Next Year Amid El Niño-Induced Water Scarcity
The Kurnool Municipal Corporation (KMC) has decided to store large Ganesh idols after the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival, postponing their immersion to next year's celebrations. The decision is a direct consequence of the non-availability of water in the city's water bodies because of scanty rainfall attributed to El Niño conditions. This arrangement is intended to conserve the available water for the city's drinking needs.
Ganesh Chaturthi is observed with great fervour in Andhra Pradesh, and the final day includes the immersion of idols in rivers, lakes and ponds. Small household idols are usually immersed in buckets, but large community idols need substantial quantities of water. The Sunkesula reservoir, which is the main source of drinking water for Kurnool, has seen a sharp fall in its level, making it impossible to release water for immersion without affecting daily supply.
To address this, a meeting was held on September 5, 2026, with Minister of Industries and Commerce T.G. Bharath Gupta, KMC Commissioner Challa Obulesu, and irrigation officials. The officials concluded that large idols, which have already been ordered or brought into the city, should be stored safely and immersed during next year's Ganesh Chaturthi.
The KMC Commissioner inspected several vacant grounds on September 6 and identified five locations for storage. These include a site near the railway track on Sunkesula Road, the MRC Function Hall, the Tourist Hotel in Venkataramana Colony, and grounds in the A-Camp and Zoharapuram areas.
The Commissioner said, "Water levels in the Sunkesula reservoir have dropped significantly. Under the current circumstances, it is not feasible to use large quantities of water for immersion of idols." He stressed that all available water is being reserved for the city's drinking needs.
The Commissioner advised Ganesh Utsav organisers and devotees to install small Ganesha idols between 1 and 1.5 feet in height. He also urged them to choose idols suitable for immersion in buckets or tubs. These can be immersed at home using very little water, allowing the ritual to be performed without putting pressure on water resources.
The Commissioner also urged organisers not to place new orders for large idols. "We appeal to the organisers not to place new orders for large idols and for those who have already placed orders to cancel them," he said. For those who have already received large idols, he requested that they store them instead of attempting immersion. The five identified grounds will be made ready to hold the idols safely until the next festival.
Underlining the priority given to water conservation, the Commissioner said, "Top priority is being given to the conservation of drinking water." He appealed to the public to understand the situation and celebrate with devotion, while keeping water usage minimal.
El Niño, marked by abnormal warming of sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, often results in a weaker monsoon over India. This year, the rainfall deficit has affected reservoir storage in several districts. In Kurnool, the KMC's decision represents a practical step to balance the festive spirit with the urgent need to preserve water for basic needs.
