Visakhapatnam: The district administration has prohibited immersion of Ganesh idols at the RK beach stretch from Coastal Battery to Park Hotel Junction in view of the BRICS Summit that is slated to be held in the city from September 14 to 16.

Addressing the media on Saturday, district collector Pravin Kumar and city police commissioner T Yoganand said the decision was taken to prevent coastal erosion and environmental pollution. Moreover, as per the BRICS Summit schedule, there several programmes are to be organised at Kailasagiri Hill, Hotel Park and Hotel Novotel due to which there would be VIP and VVIP movement in the area, he added.

The collector further said they have identified the Fishing Harbour and Pedawaltair beach for idol immersion, that too on certain days. Discussions are underway with the Visakhapatnam Port Trust officials for permitting the Ganesh Puja organisers to use the Fishing Harbour for immersion, while the Pedawaltair beach can be used for idol immersion but not between September 12 and 16, he added.

The organisers in the city’s outskirts have to immerse their idols at local water bodies or the Sagarnagar beach.