With Government agencies taking a back seat this year, environmental groups have taken the lead in propagating clay or green Ganesha idols for the coming Vinayaka Chaturthi festivities.
Several voluntary organisations are making these idols available at a small price and the demand for them, which has been growing over the last few years, remained firm this time too. Interestingly, Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) and Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) have stayed away from the campaign.
Rotary Club of Greater Hyderabad (Ph. 9848113683) is making available around one lakh Green Ganesha idols of different sizes for the festival, which can be bought at different locations with a starting price of Rs. 8 for smaller idols.
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“Bigger idols of six feet are sold already. We offer these idols on cost-to-cost basis as an effort to protect environment and encourage artisans to make environment-friendly idols,” says Jayaprakash Nambaru, district coordinator - environment protection, Rotary Club of Greater Hyderabad.
Sukuki Exnora (Ph. 9949811722), that’s providing 10,000 idols with a starting price of Rs. 40, has most of the idols sold to the resident welfare associations, apartment associations and voluntary groups. “The concept of clay idols is increasingly finding acceptance and around three lakh idols are being sold in the city,” says Maj. Shiva Karan, an activist.
The Telangana State Pollution Control Board (PCB), which started with plans of 20,000 idols to cover the entire State, increased the number to nearly 50,000 idols, given the demand. “We are providing a subsidy of Rs. 30 to manufacturers and are making these idols available at Rs. 5 because of which the demand is high,” says N. Raveendhar, TSPCB Senior Environmental Scientist.
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These idols are available at different locations, including the PCB office at Sanathnagar, near Satyam Theatre, Ameerpet and Koti Women’s College.