Mysuru: To prevent water pollution, the district administration led by Deputy Commissioner D Randeep has strictly banned Ganesha idols made up of Plaster of Paris (PoP) and even those coloured with oil paints.
D Randeep took this decision of banning after holding a meeting with officials of Pollution Control Board, Mysuru City Corporation (MCC), various other organisations including those into making Ganesha idols. To prevent PoP Ganesha idols from other districts and states, Randeep instructed police to keep an eagle eye at the check posts.
He also mentioned that for the immersion of Ganesha idols more mobile vans will be set up at vantage points including at lakes, canals and rivers. He instructed officials to see that no Ganesha idols are immersed in any lakes or water bodies. To prevent immersion of idols in water bodies, MCC will provide water-tanker vehicles in each of its zone.
Last year, the Ganesha idol vendors had assured MCC of not selling POP idols from 2017. During the meeting, the Ganesha idol vendors told DC that this year 95 percent of idols available in the market were of three types–idols made of mud, papers and Kolkata idols (made of clay available in Ganga river) and water-based colours were used for these idols, which are not harmful to water and aquatic life after immersion. Ganesha idol vendors also complained to DC that already many Ganesha idols made up of PoP had arrived at the city and some of the vendors were making PoP Ganesha idols.
Based on complaints from few Ganesha idol vendors, DC has given directions to officers and officials of Pollution Control Board and MCC to seize the PoP idols. During the meeting, few officers and activists suggested that police officers should not give permission for the installation of Ganesha idols made of PoPs and those coloured with hazardous paints, in their respective police stations.
