Mysuru: The District Administration will set up 16 check-posts at various parts of the city to prevent Plaster of Paris (PoP) Ganesha idols being brought into the city, said Deputy Commissioner D. Randeep yesterday.

He was speaking after releasing banners brought out by the District Administration to create awareness on the ill-effects of using PoP Ganesha idols.

“The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) and City Police have been working round-the-clock to prevent banned idols from entering the city. Action will be taken against those involved in selling PoP idols. Efforts are also on to create awareness on the use of eco-friendly clay Ganesha idols,” he added.

The KSPCB has directed Deputy Commissioners of all districts and Panchayat Development Officers to ensure complete ban on use of idols made from PoP. Ganesha festival will be celebrated on August 25. In order to ensure PoP idols are not brought from other States and districts, KSPCB has also issued instructions to DCs to increase vigil at check-posts.

Stating that Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) had already seized 50 PoP idols, Randeep called upon various organisations, educational institutions and others to join hands in rejecting polluting PoP idols.

Apart from harmful PoP, toxic paints are also used in decorating the idol. After the immersion, the ingredients of the statue do not completely dissolve in water which then leads to environmental pollution.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, KSPCB Environment Officer (Mysuru City) B.M. Prakash said that around 400 banners measuring 2ftx4ft that spread awareness on PoP idols were being created to be distributed among various institutions.

KSPCB Senior Environment Officer Uday Kumar, Environment Officer (Mysuru Rural) M.G. Yatish, MCC Commissioner G. Jagadeesha, MGP Secretary M.M. Shenoi, Prof. K.M. Jayaramaiah, Nehru Yuva Kendra Co-ordinator M.N. Nataraj and others were present.