Mysuru: The Ganesha festival is still three months away. However, the MCC Commissioner G. Jagadeesha has already requested the idol makers to make environmental-friendly Ganeshas and not to use poisonous coloured chemicals and plaster of paris.

He has urged the people to shun the idols that are made of such harmful materials and instead buy Ganeshas made of ordinary clay and other environment-friendly materials. Ganesha festival is a mass celebration in which the whole community is involved irrespective of caste, creed or religion. Pendals are erected and huge Ganesha idols are installed. Jagadeesha has asked the people who are involved in this mass festival not to use idols made of plastic and immerse such idols in wells, ponds and lakes. If it is done, then the water table will come down and drinking water polluted. Instead, immerse the idols in buckets or use the service of immersion vehicles that will be provided during that period. Before immersion in lakes, remove the flowers, plastic garlands and all other decorative materials. Do not burst firecrackers. The smoke from the firecrackers is harmful especially for asthma patients. Do not litter the storm water drains and drainages with plastic plates and glasses used during the festival, he has said.

The MCC will confiscate idols of Ganesha and Gowri made of poisonous and harmful products and impose fine and file criminal cases against both the manufacturers and the sellers, he has warned.

It is the responsibility and duty of every citizen to protect and maintain a clean environment and everyone should cooperate to keep the city clean, said Jagadeesha in a press release.