Ban works! Fewer PoP Ganeshas this year in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: All the efforts by KSPCB and BBMP to curb PoP Ganesha idols seems to have worked this year! Water analysis and study of water bodies after the festival celebrations have revealed that out of the 4.12 lakh idols immersed in the city, 2.65 lakh were of clay. Unlike the previous years, where PoP idols used to outnumber clay ones, this year only 1.47 lakh PoP idols were immersed.

In a press statement on Tuesday, the KSPCB said that suspended solids, total dissolve solids and BOD were found in water bodies after the idol immersion. It also stressed that metal content in the water was high this year.

Further, the KSPCB, which held a meeting with BBMP officials, announced that one month’s time will be given to all the idol vendors in the state to return their PoP idols or send them back to the states from where they were brought.

“From November 1, KSPCB will visit all the idol stalls in the city and check for PoP idols. If stocks are found, they will be seized immediately,” the statement said. Upon seizing the idols, the KSPCB plans to dispose them off at four garbage processing plants, while the material will be later sent to cement mills for scientifically utilizing the material.    

It can be recalled that in July the KSPCB mandated that manufacturing and selling of PoP idols was banned and though customers were not penalized, it took action against distributors and stall owners.     

Upcoming festivals
On the sidelines of the meeting, the officials discussed various measures to be adopted to prevent garbage crisis during the upcoming festivals such as Dussera, Deepavali and Christmas. The KSPCB said that a meeting will be held within 15 days in this regard.

The officials discussed measures to scientifically dispose off plastic waste generated during the festival. Thay also planned to visit the Nayandahalli industrial zone, where plastic hand covers are manufactured.

The KSPCB instructed the BBMP officials to issue a notification directing that a common place be identified in every ward and those bursting crackers must gather at that place to celebrate the festival.

“In a bid to reduce air and noise pollution, celebrations should take place at a common ground in each ward and a notification will be shortly issued in this regard,” the statement said.