Mysuru: The district administration has banned the manufacture, sale, transportation and immersion of Ganesha idols made from Plaster of Paris (PoP) or painted with chemical colours containing heavy metals, as part of measures to prevent environmental pollution during the upcoming Gowri-Ganesha festival.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Mysuru R. Aishwarya announced the restrictions while chairing a meeting on September 1 to review arrangements for the festival. She appealed to residents and organisers to choose eco-friendly clay idols made using natural colours and cooperate with the administration.
Strict action against PoP idols
The Mysuru district administration, in coordination with the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) and Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), has issued stringent guidelines concerning the use of PoP and chemically coloured idols.
According to the guidelines, criminal cases will be registered against those violating the restrictions under Section 279 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Shops involved in manufacturing or selling PoP idols will also not be granted trade licences.
The administration has decided to intensify surveillance to prevent PoP idols from entering the district from other States. Strict checks will be carried out at border check-posts to identify and stop the transportation of prohibited idols.
A committee comprising MCC health officers and zonal commissioners, in coordination with the police department, has been directed to conduct raids on unauthorised idol manufacturing units. PoP idols found during such inspections will be seized and fines imposed on violators.
Immersion rules tightened
The administration has also prohibited the immersion of PoP and chemically coloured idols in natural water bodies, including rivers, lakes and wells.
Residents installing Ganesha idols at their homes have been advised to carry out the immersion at home. Publicly installed idols must be immersed only in mobile immersion tanks arranged by the civic body or in designated artificial ponds.
The restrictions are aimed at reducing the environmental impact caused by idol immersion. PoP does not dissolve easily in water, while chemical paints containing heavy metals can contaminate water bodies and affect aquatic ecosystems.
Authorities have urged devotees to separate wet waste before immersion. Flowers, fruits, banana stems and other puja materials should be segregated and handed over to waste-disposal vehicles operated by the local civic bodies.
Permission mandatory for public celebrations
Committees planning to install Gauri-Ganesha idols in public places will have to obtain prior permission from the respective local body as well as the police department.
Depending on the location, organisers will have to secure permission from the municipal corporation, city municipal council or gram panchayat concerned.
The administration has also prohibited the use of single-use plastic, flex banners and decorative festoons at festival pandals.
The restrictions are intended to ensure that public celebrations do not create additional waste or contribute to environmental pollution.
Loudspeaker use restricted at night
The district administration has also issued instructions concerning sound systems during the festival.
The use of loudspeakers and microphones has been completely prohibited between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. The restriction is aimed at maintaining public order and preventing inconvenience to residents during night hours.
Officials have urged festival committees to follow the prescribed timings and other conditions while organising public programmes.
Appeal for eco-friendly celebrations
Addressing the meeting, Aishwarya appealed to the public to avoid PoP idols and those painted with chemical colours containing harmful substances.
She encouraged residents to choose traditional clay idols made with natural colours as a safer and more environmentally responsible alternative.
The administration’s measures come amid growing efforts to promote eco-friendly celebrations and prevent festival-related pollution. Idol immersion, in particular, can place additional stress on water bodies when non-biodegradable materials and chemical paints are used.
Officials have called upon residents, shopkeepers, idol manufacturers and festival committees to follow the guidelines strictly and cooperate with enforcement agencies.
Additional Superintendent of Police C. Mallik, officials from the KSPCB, district and taluk panchayats and other departments attended the meeting.