The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has banned immersion of baked clay and plaster of paris (PoP) idols in water bodies. The civic body has issued the information after getting directions by the state government's forest and environment department.
As per the directions, the idols must be made by using only natural materials. Moreover, the artisans will have to use only non-toxic colour and non-chemical colours that can dissolve in water and are not harmful in any manner. Moreover, bio-degradable decorative items should be removed from the idol and disposed of separately. Non-bio-degradable decorative items will have to be collected separately and disposed of in sanitary landfill site.
The Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) had tried to put a ban on PoP idols last year. However, as the ban was imposed only a few days before the Ganesh Puja, the artisans had sought refuge in the High Court and asked to save them from losses.
As per an estimate, nearly 8,000 idols are immersed in the Sabarmati River during Ganesh Visarjan and the number of idols is quite higher during Dashama Puja.
Ban on PoP idols is likely to have impact on the price and size of idol. As per an estimate, the idols made of natural material or eco-friendly material will cost around three times more. Citing an example, Dhana Makwana, who has been making idols for decades said, "Presently, a five-and-a-half foot PoP idol costs Rs11,000, while the same thing made in clay will cost around Rs35,000."
The craftsmen also believe that height of idols will also decrease, as it would be difficult to make tall idols for the craftsmen as it is very difficult to maintain once it is made as it develops cracks. Moreover, the increased price will also force the devotees for small idols.
"Every year, on an average, we make close to 200 idols but from now onwards we won't have more than 125 idols ready. We can't use the mould we use for PoP and every clay idol needs to be hand-made," Manu Parmar, a craftsman, had told DNA earlier. With a blanket ban on the use of PoP from 2012, craftsmen fear for their daily meal as majority of the 2,000-odd families depend totally on idol making.
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