Mysuru: Despite the ban on making and selling of Plaster of Paris (PoP) made Gowri-Ganesha idols, especially ahead of Gowri-Ganesha festival in September, the environmentally hazardous idols are making their way into the city, without any check.

The vendors have been procuring the gigantic size idols of Ganesha from the artistes spanning other States like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, along with Bengaluru and keeping them for sale on the footpaths of Vontikoppal, V.V. Mohalla and surrounding areas, to attract the buyers.  Yesterday, the big sized idols were brought in trucks and unloaded with the help of a crane, at Vontikoppal. Such idols are favourite among the organisations and associations, who celebrate the festival in public, in  a grandiose manner. Many of the organisations pay the advance amount, to procure idols of innovative designs, just to attract the eyeballs.

Such idols made using powder with hazardous chemicals like calcium, sulphate, hemihydrate, carry Gandhaka (Sulphur), Ranjaka (Phosphorous), Gypsum and Magnesium, along with chemical paints produced using Paadarasa (Mercury), Cadmium, Seesa (Lead) and Ingala (Carbon), which pose a grave threat to the environment.

If these PoP idols are immersed in water, they spread poisonous content upon breaking down, taking a toll on the health of aquatic creatures, besides cattle and livestock.

On Sept. 15, 2023, State Government had issued an order prohibiting the manufacturing, transportation, sale and immersion of PoP idols. Subsequently, High Court had passed an order for the strict implementation of the prohibition on PoP idols. However, it has proved a little in curbing the manufacturing of PoP idols and also to create public awareness.

In this wake, environmentalists have demanded that Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) and Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) take up coordinated action, before more such idols dot the city in large numbers.