Sir,

This refers to the pictorial report titled “CNNL workers remove Ganesha idols from canals” in Star of Mysore dated Sept. 10.

Year after year, the Government bans Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols and year after year, people violate them. They don’t care because they know that the Government too does not care.

It is disgusting that people have no regard for rules and no commitment to saving the environment. Open air defecation and urination, throwing trash on the road, not wearing helmets, driving the wrong way on a one-way and jumping signals are common. Why? Because the Government does not care.

Proof of the matter is year after year when it rains, cities come to a standstill, potholes are never attended to, and re-topping of roads is done unscientifically. All that the Government cares about is power at any cost.

If they really cared, then there would have been teams of personnel to go around checking the PoP idols being sold. Licences have to be made mandatory for both the makers and sellers of idols. Also, a fixed point in rivers, lakes and canals has to be manned by personnel to supervise all idols that are  being immersed.

Heavy fines must be imposed on people who harm the environment and the makers and sellers have to be penalised. The penalty should be double every time and repeat violators have to be jailed. 

– George Rego, Mysuru, 10.9.2022