The state pollution control board has taken steps to ensure that Bengaluru's water bodies remain unharmed this Ganesh Chaturthi.
The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has banned the sale of Ganesha idols made with plaster of Paris (POP) and painted with harmful chemicals.
Local civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has declared that it will confiscate such idols if found in the market. Also, those responsible for immersing these idols in the city's lakes and rivers will be prosecuted. Offenders will have to cough up a penalty of ₹10,000 and also face imprisonment under section 45A of Water Pollution Prevention and Control Act of 1974.
The KSPCB issued a notice on July 20 which instructed the government departments, the BBMP and all local governing bodies to adhere to the guidelines. It has also ordered authorities to deny licences to manufacturers selling POP-made Ganesha idols and revoke licences that were issued earlier.
Devotees have been asked to use idols made with clay devoid of chemical paints. The chemical paints use for on the idols contain water-insoluble chemicals such as lead, cadmium and chromium that are harmful to the flora and fauna in the water bodies.
With the festive season fast approaching, manufacturers have already made thousands of Ganesha idols. Some sellers in Karnataka import idols from north India and have stored thousands of idols in their warehouses which were not sold the previous year. The notification came as a shock to the sellers and manufacturers of Ganesha idols.
It has been estimated that more than 6 lakh POP-made idols were sold in the city and close to 36 lakes and 136 small water bodies were affected by these idols. The BBMP has been spending ₹1 crore annually to dispose the remains of these idols and clean the water bodies.
