Ganesh idols height must not cross 8 feet: Visakhapatnam police

Visakhapatnam: Height of Ganesh idols in the pandals is restricted in Vizag city. The city police commissioner has issued various guidelines this year for the Ganesh festival to make it accident-free and eco-friendly.  

The police have asked idol-makers to restrict the height of idols to 8 feet. After using eco-friendly natural dyes for Ganesh idols last year, the authorities now want to ensure a hassle-free immersion of the idols. 

The idol makers and the 'utsav' committees have been strictly asked not to go for plaster of paris idols. Pollution Control Board will take up a campaign, sensitising people about the adverse affects of the PoP on water, aquatic creatures and also human being.

"We will distribute handouts highlighting the adverse consequences of PoP idols. Clay idols decay in water, but the idols made up of PoP and other chemicals don't. The chemicals not only pollute water but harm the aquatic life.  Many materials, including plastics, which are thrown in the water bodies during immersion are also harmful," said, APPCB (Vizag), environment engineer R. Lakshminarayana.

Moreover, the permission is also required from the PCB to play loudspeaker in the pandals, as well as during the immersion procession.

Besides, bursting crackers during the immersion procession has also been restricted. The committees would have to take prior permission of the police and PCB before taking out the processions. The 'utsav' committees have to ensure that the processions do not result in traffic snarls. 

The idol-makers are however unhappy over the restrictions as the prices of the idols depend on their height also.