Questioning the timing of the ban imposed on Ganesh idols made of Plaster of Paris (PoP) by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), the Madhyavarthi Shree Ganesh Mahamandal has strongly opposed the move and demanded its withdrawal.
Netaji Jadhav, president of the Mahamandal, which represents nearly 200 public Ganesh Mandals in the city, said here on Monday that the KSPCB's decision was ill-timed. Already tens of thousands of idols of small and large size made out of PoP were in finishing stages of painting and ornamentation. A large number of devotees, including the public Ganesh Mandals, had already booked the idols for the Vinayaka Chaturthi festival to be celebrated from September 5.
If the KSPCB goes ahead with its ban orders and collects penalty of Rs.10,000 for violation, then the idol manufacturers would face a great loss, Mr. Jadhav said.
Other members of the Mahamandal pointed out that the manufacturing of Ganesh idols starts at least seven to eight months before the festival every year. Such being the case, the KSPCB should have studied the nature of the industry before coming out with ban-order.
The KSPCB, Belagavi, last week announced the ban on both sale and manufacture of the Ganesha idols made of PoP and painted with harmful chemicals. A notification was issued in this regard on July 20 under Section 33(A) of the Water Pollution Prevention and Control Act of 1974. Violation would attract a penalty of Rs.10,000 and imprisonment under section 45A of the Act.
Accordingly, officials of all the government departments and local governing bodies have been instructed to implement the order and not to issue licence to manufacturers selling PoP-made Ganesha idols. Also, the authorities have been instructed to cancel the licence of the existing manufactures making PoP idols.
The Mahamandal leaders have submitted a memorandum to Additional Deputy Commissioner Suresh Itnal asking for lifting the ban.
Festival fervour
Vinayaka Chaturthi is a major festival celebrated in Belagavi city and other parts of North Karnataka, which goes on from three to ten days.
There are around 340 Public Ganesh Mandals in Belagavi. Every year, thousands of devotees come to witness the grand immersion procession on the tenth day of the festival.
