MADURAI: Officials of Madurai corporation on Tuesday sealed eight temporary sheds in Mattuthavani, Puthur and Sambakulam in which migrant workers were making Vinayakar idols using banned plaster of paris (PoP) for the Chathurthi festival. The action was taken after officials of Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board noticed the violations during inspections. Subsequently, the idol makers who had come from Rajasthan sought the intervention of the district collector, stating their livelihood would be affected.
According to Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board officials, the department inspected 18 idol manufacturing units in Madurai following complaints and found that eight units were using PoP. Based on the findings, the board sent a recommendation to the corporation to seal the eight units.
Corporation health officials said the use of PoP for making idols was prohibited as the material does not dissolve easily when immersed in water. The idols could therefore remain in waterbodies and contribute to pollution, they said.
A group of idol makers who were operating in Mattuthavani approached the district collector along with their families and sought a month’s time to sell the idols that had already been made. Also, they requested permission to continue idol-making by adhering to pollution-control norms and using permitted materials.
The workers said they had travelled to Madurai from Rajasthan and invested money borrowed at interest to prepare idols for the festival. With the production units now sealed, they fear heavy financial losses as the festival season approaches.
“We (about five families) came from Rajasthan and borrowed money at interest to invest in idol-making, since there would be decent demand for idols for Vinayakar Chathurthi. The idols we have already prepared are inside the sealed premises. Our livelihood has been affected. We have requested the authorities to give us one month to sell the idols already made,”said Bharghav, an idol maker.
Another worker Jamuna said, “Apart from Vinayakar idols, we have made over 200 smaller idols which are for decorative purposes. They are also inside the sealed premises. We are facing a big financial loss. We do not know any other works than idol making. and therefore request officials to allow us to continue manufacturing idols as per norms.”