Durga Puja: Plaster of Paris, baked clay idols continue to sell despite guidelines

Several Durga Puja committees continued to buy idols fashioned out of Plaster of Paris and baked clay for the upcoming festival, flouting guidelines issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Small and medium scale Puja committees are more inclined towards POP or baked clay idols, which they say are much cheaper than making idols with pure clay.

Many idols makers are also selling POP baked murtis of the idols to serve the needs of various small-scale Pujas. "Durga Pratima or any other idol should be made using only natural materials since they do not cause serious water pollution problems. The idols should be made from natural materials like traditional clay rather than baked clay, plaster of paris, etc," says CPCB official R M Bhardwaj.

Idols made out of POP or baked clay do not dissolve within hours of immersion in water and may may take anywhere between several months to years to fully dissolve, which experts say poses a great threat to water bodies. "The guidelines are a broad framework but prohibition is necessary. We have also issued guidelines to avoid synthetic paints to decorate the idols, and use natural colours as well. The area police personnel will help to keep a check on the pandals this festive season," says Bhardwaj.

CPCB has also issued guidelines on the use of artificial or synthetic paints used on the idols. These paints contain heavy metals such as mercury and lead, which seep into the water as the idol dissolves.

"We use herbal and natural colors while painting our idols. But there are also demands from small scale Pujas to use synthetic colours because it is more affordable," says a 35-year-old idol maker who has been fashioning idols for the Durga Puja festival in the city.

"The idols are of several heights with the tallest reaching six to seven feet. Usually making use of natural clay with natural paints on tall idols is costly as compared to using plaster of Paris or baked clay," he added.

Members of Dugra Puja committees across the city say they have to tighten their purse strings since budgets have shot up after the appeal from CPCB to organise environment friendly pandals.  High labour cost, costly organic colours, and soaring prices of raw materials are some of the problems they have to face.

"It becomes extremely costly for us to deliver a puja keeping the eco-friendly point in mind. If we decide to keep an idol which is environment friendly, we have to compromise on the other materials," says Pradip Haldar, a member of the Rohini sector 16 Durga Puja Committe. "Our budget is restricted and the labour charges and expenses of the soil has made it even more difficult," he adds.

Pollution of such water bodies has been a matter of concern and have attracted several public interest litigations as well. Apart from advocating for the use of environment friendly materials for idols, guidelines by the CPCB also call for removal of items such as flowers, leaves and artificial ornaments that adorn the 'Pratima' before it is immersed. it also calls for for dedicated immersion points in rivers and removal of idols within 48 hours.