As the city is gearing up for the Ganesh Chaturti on the 13th of this month the demand for idols of Lord Ganesha has skyrocketed. Though there is a total ban on the production and sale of POP idols, the shopkeepers and vested interests have found innovative ways to produce and sell POP idols in large numbers.
According to sources, more than 50000 POP idols are ready for sale in the city. These idols are produced in houses located mainly in Shankarpur, Laxmipuram, Kishen Bagh, Chandan Nagar, Chandravani Nakka and Jiwajiganj to name a few.
While major manufacturers of Ganesha idols have shifted from POP to eco-friendly clay idols, the shopkeepers in their greed to make fast buck approach private citizens, offering them incentives to manufacture POP idols. These citizens employ cheap labour from UP and Bihar to make these idols in their houses.
As the routine checks initiated by the administration are mere eye washers the prohibited idols find their way to the godowns of the shopkeepers. Another thing that goes in favour of the felonious shopkeepers is the religious sentiments attached to the idols. As the police and the administration are apprehensive of hurting the religious sentiments they normally don’t take any stern action against the offenders.
The public too are responsible for this. In recent years many social activists have been taking the initiative to convince people about the ecological damage, especially the water pollution plaster of paris and the chemicals used on them causes, appealing them to shift from POP idols to more eco-friendly options.
But since the POP idols are cheaper and more attractive due to the chemical paints used on them people prefer to buy them.
Speaking to the media persons, the District Collector Ashok Varma said that he is soon forming a team to check all the godowns of the shopkeepers. He added that all the POP idols will be confiscated. He also said that if need be, section 144 will be enforced to make sure that the production and sale of the illegal idols is not carried out during this festive season.