The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), for the second consecutive year, has offered moulds and material for preparing clay Ganesh idols to schools in the city to propagate the concept of eco-friendly idols during the forthcoming Vinayaka Chaturthi festivities. Interacting with representatives of various voluntary groups and teachers from different educational institutions here on Thursday, GHMC Commissioner M.T. Krishna Babu said that the interested schools can register themselves with officials of the Health and Sanitation wing.
“The students will enjoy creating their own idols and this will help in spreading awareness on the need for eco-friendly idols,” he pointed out. Additional Commissioner (Health and Sanitation) L. Vandan Kumar said the services of sanitary supervisors and health officials would be utilised to ensure that the material reached all the schools registering with the civic body.
In response to a suggestion by NGOs on restricting the height of idols, Mr. Krishna Babu said it was for the government to take a decision.
To another suggestion, he promised to explore the possibilities of extending financial support to artisans preparing clay idols from next year.
The NGOs also proposed adding colours using vegetable dyes to the clay idols to make them more attractive and score over the idols made with plaster of paris.
HMDA idols
Meanwhile, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has informed that eco-friendly eight-inch Ganesha idols would be made available at Rs.12.50 and requisitions for the same could be made in the application available at ‘www.hmda.gov.in/pressrelease.html’.
