The Samithi members said that effluents are discharged into Hussainsagar throughout the year but none raise their voice, but for the festival which is celebrated once a year is restrained and several conditions are imposed.

Despite GHMC officials have organized nine lakes for immersion, Samithi members are adamant that they will continue immersion process in Hussainsagar and even exhorted people to continue to do so.

“It is a ritual for people to immerse idols in Hussainsagar. They do this as a sign of unity and integrity. No one can stop us from doing so,” said Rao.

Meanwhile, at a review meeting on Wednesday GHMC commissioner Janardhan Reddy said that to facilitate smooth procession of idol immersion, the civic body will prune trees. However, the move has angered environmentalist calling it as ‘hypocrisy’ which will ridicule government’s ‘Haritha Haram’ programme.

“Ganesh pooja is done with leaves and flowers and if we go around chopping them down to make way for huge idols, it is sheer hypocrisy,” said environmentalist Purushottam Reddy.