Hyderabad: In a blend of faith and sustainability, old idols, faded photo frames and worn-out religious calendars found a dignified farewell instead of ending up in garbage bins or water bodies in Cyberabad Municipal Corporation (CMC) jurisdiction on Saturday.On the first day of the divine items collection programme launched by CMC, hundreds of residents voluntarily handed over old divine photo frames and other sacred items at collection centres set up at five temples across the CMC limits, including Madhapur, Nizampet and Kompally.The initiative began with a traditional puja before devotees deposited used religious items at specially designated counters. The programme seeks to provide a respectful and environment-friendly alternative for disposing of sacred objects that many households find difficult to discard.CMC officials said all collected items would be scientifically segregated, recycled wherever possible and managed through eco-friendly methods. “The initiative aims to encourage responsible waste management without hurting religious sentiments and prevent sacred items from being dumped in lakes, drains or mixed with municipal waste,” a senior CMC official said.GHMC holds phase 3 of Udvasana:Meanwhile, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has successfully organised the third phase of Project Udvasana – divine waste collection drive on Saturday. So far, around 400 citizens have participated, contributing around 1,500 kg of sacred items. The collection included over 1,500 puja frames and deity photographs, 100 idols, and 300 religious albums and calendars.GHMC has proposed institutionalising Project Udvasana by establishing regular collection drives at interested temples across the city on designated days, thereby creating a permanent and accessible ecosystem for the respectful collection and responsible recycling of worshipped sacred items.GHMC has invited temples, NGOs, volunteer organisations, corporates and citizen groups interested in partnering with this initiative to come forward and organise these drives. “The initiative, aimed at providing a dignified and environmentally responsible mechanism for the disposal of worshipped sacred items, continues to gain momentum as a unique citizen-led sustainability movement,” a GHMC official said.
