Karnataka Forest and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre Monday directed the Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner, Dayananda KA, to shut down a plaster of paris (PoP) idol manufacturing unit in Kengeri. The order dated August 7 stated, “An illegal PoP manufacturing unit has come up in Kengeri. This unit is functioning on a revenue land and no permission was taken from town planning authorities. One Mr Srinivas has been running the unit and polluting water bodies with the sale of PoP idols coated with chemical paints. The officials from the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) visited the unit on August 4. This unit has failed to produce the permission letter from any authorities. It is hereby directed to take legal action against this unit and to seal it and take action to close it permanently.” There is a complete ban on the sale and manufacturing of idols made of PoP in Karnataka. Khandre has directed the KSPCB officials to stay vigilant against the sale and manufacturing of PoP idols. “Public awareness should be created against the use of PoP idols as they do not dissolve completely in water. PoP idols pollute the water bodies. There have been reports of death due to consumption of contaminated water from parts of the state. We have one and a half month left until Ganesh Chaturthi and neither PoP idols should be allowed to be manufactured here nor should they be allowed to enter Karnataka from other states,” he added. The minister said that traditionally the idols of Ganesha were made from clay. “In the last two-three decades PoP idols have come into the market. The colours which are used on PoP idols affect aquatic lives and pollute water bodies,” he said.
