A lawmaker in Tirupati (a city in Andhra Pradesh, southern India, known as the seat of the Tirumala Venkateswara temple) has urged residents to use clay idols rather than Plaster of Paris figures during the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, citing environmental concerns. MLA Arani Srinivasulu made the appeal at the inauguration of a festival committee office on 6 September, also asking organisers to complete idol immersions by 16 September to avoid overlap with a major Hindu religious procession beginning the following day. Festival organisers said pandal permits would be issued through a single-window system, and that a proposal to provide free electricity to festival venues is pending approval from the state's chief minister.