Bengaluru: Karnataka Minister Eshwar Khandre on Wednesday directed officials to ensure that only eco-friendly, unpainted clay Ganesh idols are permitted for public installation and immersion within gram panchayat limits.
The direction comes ahead of the Ganesh festival on September 14.
In a written communication to the department secretary, Khandre instructed that immersion of banned Plaster of Paris idols coated with chemical paints should not be permitted.
He called for encouraging people to worship clay idols to protect water bodies and the environment.
The state Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister directed gram panchayats to permit only the installation and immersion of eco-friendly clay Gauri and Ganesh idols as part of efforts to conserve natural water resources, according to a statement issued by his office.
Khandre directed officials to curb the manufacture, stocking, transportation and sale of PoP Ganesh idols well ahead of the festival to prevent any adverse impact on the religious sentiments of people during the celebrations.
He asked the department to seek the assistance of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board and conduct awareness campaigns at the panchayat level on the harmful effects of PoP idols.
In his communication, Khandre said PoP idols, made from calcium sulphate hemihydrate powder, contain substances such as sulphur, pigments, gypsum and magnesium.
He added that the paints applied to these idols often contain hazardous heavy metals like mercury, cadmium and lead, making them harmful to the environment.
He said immersion of PoP idols in lakes, rivers, wells and other water bodies releases these heavy metals into the water, posing risks to human and animal health and threatening aquatic life.
Referring to Section 33A of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, Khandre said the immersion of PoP idols in rivers, lakes, ponds, tanks, wells and other water bodies has been prohibited in the state.
The minister noted that a government order issued on September 15, 2023, banned the manufacture, transportation, sale and immersion of environmentally harmful PoP idols.
He added that the Karnataka High Court had directed the authorities to strictly enforce the order.
He instructed all gram panchayats to take the necessary steps to protect water bodies and the environment by ensuring effective implementation of the ban.
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