80% idol workshops in Maharashtra come to a standstill due to ‘POP ban’

Idol makers face challenge to make lakhs of clay idols within 3 months
Ganesh Mandals are moving towards fibre idols

(POP stands for Plaster of Paris)

Pune – Pune Municipal Corporation has taken strict measures this year to implement the ban on ‘POP’ imposed by the Bombay High Court a few years ago. As the municipal administration intensified the campaign, the work of making Ganesh idols in 80% of the workshops in the State has come to a standstill. In the idol workshops in Pune, 80% of the idols are made of ‘POP’ and 20% are made of clay. If the making of clay idols is to be started now, the idol makers will only get 3 months’ time. After the idols are completed, the idol makers have to paint them as well, and it takes additional time. Unpainted idols are likely to get wet and break during the monsoon. Considering the increasing demand for Ganesh idols in Pune at present, the challenge is how to make so many clay idols within such a short time.

Ganesh Mandals inclined towards fibre idols

The Bombay High Court has instructed the State Government to ensure that Ganesh Mandals do not do pranapratishtha of Ganesh idols made of POP during Ganeshotsav. Accordingly, most of the Mandals are inclined to get fibre idols made. (The Ganesh idols of Mandals are tall and large, which cannot be made from clay. The administration should have first set limits on idol height – Editor).

Editorial Perspectives

A report by ‘Srushti Eco Research’ has stated that ‘POP’ does not cause water pollution. If ‘POP’ was to be banned, the administration should have made alternatives like clay, available in abundance before banning the POP. If that was done, this dire situation would not have arisen.

Does the administration not realize the situation that will arise by banning ‘POP’ without providing adequate alternatives? Won’t this hasty action keep several people deprived of Dharmacharan (practicing Dharma) ?