District administrations identify 29 irrigation tanks for idol immersion as part of Vinayaka Chaturthi celebrations

PS Collector Leela Alex inspected the Saduperi lake to ensure that all safety measures were in place before the idol was immersed. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

The district administration has identified 29 water bodies, mostly irrigation tanks managed by the Water Resources Department (WRD), in Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur and Tiruvannamalai districts for idol immersion as part of Vinayaka Chaturthi celebrations.

Vellore Corporation officials said encroachments, mostly roadside shops and extensions of existing shops, along the procession routes would be demolished to ensure the safety of the participants. “Corporation staff will erect wooden barricades near water bodies and roads to allow devotees to immerse the idols safely,” A. Sultana, Commissioner, Vellore Corporation, told The Hindu.

Accompanied by Ms. Sultana, PS Collector Leela Alex inspected Saduperi Lake, one of the largest water bodies managed by the corporation, to ensure that all safety measures are in place for idol immersion.

During the immersion of the idols, a team of police personnel will be deployed in the designated water bodies to ensure the safety of the participants. As part of the security measures, the police team will also ensure that idol immersion takes place near the lake embankment. The entire procession will be captured on camera.

Corporation officials said that most of the water bodies identified were maintained by the WRD and hence strict instructions were issued to the event organizers to prevent contamination of the water in these lakes. These bodies of water were mostly used for irrigation and groundwater recharge in the area. Local authorities have also dug wells around the embankment of these lakes to supply water to their residents.

In Tiruvannamalai district, 11 water bodies, including Thamarai Kulam, Polur Lake, Singarapettai Lake, Konarirayan Kulam, Aithu Kaan Varapathi Lake and Bhuma Chetty Kulam, would be allowed to be used for idol immersion. In Ranipet, two water bodies at Ranipet, Arcot and Arakkonam have been identified for this purpose.

Adhiyur (Tirupattur town), Kallukuttai (Natrampalli), Santrorkuppam (Ambur), Ponneri (Jolar Pettai) and Pallipattu (Vaniyambadi) were among the six lakes in Tirupattur district. Four lakes in the cities of Vellore and Gudiyatham could be immersed in the idols.

TNPCB officials said idols made of natural, biodegradable, eco-friendly raw materials without any toxic, inorganic raw materials like traditional virtuous clay and mud and those that do not contain gypsum (PoP), plastic and thermocol (polystyrene) will be allowed for safe immersion in water bodies.

Dried flower components and straw should be used for making idol ornaments. Any use of toxic and non-biodegradable chemical dyes and oil paints for painting idols has been strictly prohibited, TNPCB officials said.

Published – 12 Sep 2026 23:22 IST