It made all the right noises at the start of the C this year, but the BBMP has once again failed to enforce the ban on Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols introduced in Nov. 2016.
Between September 13 and 16 this year as many as 17,505 PoP idols have been immersed in lakes and the temporary and mobile tanks set up by the BBMP. And the number could have crossed 20,000 since, sources said.
Though BBMP officials did go on an inspection spree of major outlets selling the idols and seized hundreds of the PoP variety, the drive doesn’t seem to have had a big enough impact.
Shopkeepers in Pottery Town, who continue to sell PoP idols, say they need to get rid of their old stock. Said one shopkeeper, “I took loans and invested a lot of money in making the PoP idols around two or three years ago and I have no choice but to recover my money. I am trying to sell all my stock this year and will make sure that the PoP idols are not sold from next year because I do understand the serious harm this particular material does to the water bodies and the environment.” Responding to his pleas, BBMP officials seized the bigger idols and let him keep the smaller ones.
Mayor Sampath Raj jumps to the defence of the BBMP, claiming the number of PoP idols sold in the city has fallen this year. “We did take steps to ensure that no PoP idols were sold this year, but just before the festival, the shopkeepers sold the idols they had in stock for the past two or three years. The number is still less than last year. We will work towards enforcing the ban next year.”
KSPCB chairman Laksman claims the immersion of PoP idols has dropped since last year, when they accounted for about to 15 to 20 per cent of the idols sold.
