Plaster of Paris Ganesh idols continue to flood market

Jammalamadugu (Kadapa): Artisans continue to make big Ganesh idols using Plaster of Paris (PoP) and chemical colours unmindful of the serious pollution threat posed by them to the environment and water bodies. The massive campaign taken up by the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) and NGOs against the PoP idols has failed to motivate artisans to switch over to making eco-friendly ones.

As PoP idols look more attractive compared to the clay ones, they command a high price. Most of the festival organising committees still prefer PoP idols for installation in pandals to attract devotees. As livelihood does matter for artisans, they are not ready to lose their business by making clay idols.

Proddatur road in Jammalamadugu is a hub of PoP idol making. Ganesh idols ranging from a height of 5 ft to 15 ft are made here. According to an estimate, 1,000 PoP big idols are made in Jammalamadugu for Vinayaka Chavithi festival every year which are exported to other districts in the State. The idols installed in pandals in the area are immersed in Kundu river at Peddamudium.

The large scale immersion of PoP idols is polluting the river water, besides posing a grave threat to fish and other species. Speaking to The Hans India, Subhan, an artisan, said ``We bring PoP from Rajasthan to make Ganesh idols. We are not advised against making of PoP idols. Many artisans are engaged in making these idols because they are much in demand.’’

Subba Rao, an advocate and a green activist, said ``Artisans need to be educated on harmful effects of PoP idols on the environment. If artisans are made aware of the grave pollution threat posed by these idols to the environment and water bodies, they themselves will switch over to production of eco-friendly ones. The campaign against PoP idols will yield the desired results when only it covers both makers and worshippers.’’

By D Madhukumar