Hyderabad: Paper-shot cannons, drunk driving and instances of obscene dancing emerged as key concerns during this year’s Ganesh immersion, with Hyderabad police commissioner VC Sajjanar saying the department would seek stricter regulation and greater public discipline during next year’s festivities.Addressing the media on Saturday, Sajjanar said plastic waste and other remains accumulated on roads and became slippery when it rained, posing a risk to two-wheeler riders. He said the police would take up the issue with the govt with a view to enforcing a ban on devices such as paper-shot cannons next year. He also said waste left behind after ‘annadanam’ programmes would be systematically regulated.Sajjanar stressed the need for self-discipline among pandal organisers and the public, citing instances of drunk driving and obscene dancing during the celebrations. He said the police would conduct advance meetings with festival committees and idol sculptors ahead of next year’s festivities to create awareness about idol height limits, discipline and security standards.The commissioner also credited the public, festival organisers and various govt departments for the peaceful conclusion of the immersion process. Around 30 lakh devotees visited Khairatabad Ganesh, while nearly 15 lakh visited Balapur Ganesh, Sajjanar said. He added that the immersion of both major idols was completed ahead of schedule.“Preparations for the immersion began nearly three months ago, with route inspections and coordination meetings involving the police, GHMC, HYDRAA, R&B, electricity, transport and other departments,” the CP said, adding that real-time monitoring and a multi-agency war room at the TGICCC helped coordinate operations.Around 20,000 Hyderabad police personnel and more than 8,000 additional personnel from other districts were deployed, with Greyhounds, Octopus and TGSP also involved. Sajjanar said a detailed debriefing would now be conducted, with preparations for next year’s immersion to begin based on lessons from this year’s operation.
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