Preparations for Ganesh Chaturti
With Ganesh Chaturti less than a month away, Ganesha idol merchants are prepared with idols ranging from five inches to 16 feet, across RV Road, Basavanagudi, one of the city’s biggest Ganesha idol selling street.
Although Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has strongly objected the usage of chemical paints on the idols, not much seems to have changed here.
Theerthagiri, an idol merchant on R V Road said, “Primarily, it is the customers’ demands that push us to use chemical paints without which we will be unable to provide the idols in colours that are demanded. Also, colourless clay idols are heavy and difficult to maintain from damage, so customers don’t prefer it.”
“Although KSPCB has asked merchants to use natural paints, provisions aren’t made to avail them easily”, lamented another merchant who requested anonymity.
When City Express spoke to A S Sadashivaiah, Chairman of KSPCB, about the merchants’ predicaments, he said, “For the awareness of people and merchants, a workshop was held by KSPCB on the ill-effects of chemical paints and decorative things like glitter powder and stones.
To monitor the minimal usage of such harmful things, 15 regional officers will be supervising major idol selling venues.”
Regarding the claim of non-availability of natural paint, he said, “Arrangements are made in partnership with Mysore Paints and Varnish Ltd to make such paints available.
Also, 30 per cent of the cost of natural paint and full cost of any unsold colourless clay idol will be borne by KSPCB”.
Sending out a message that painting idols with chemical paints and buying such idols is a ‘heinous crime’ because it pollutes precious resources such as water and soil, he pointed out that colourless clay idols will be available at the KSPCB office.