Hyderabad: With less than a month to go for Ganesh Chaturthi, the lanes of Dhoolpet are bustling with activity. Rows of Lord Ganesh idols, ranging from one-foot to towering structures exceeding 30 feet, stand in various stages of completion as artisans race against time to meet the festive demand.Artisans said the demand for plaster of paris (POP) idols remain high, while clay idols are made only when customers specifically ask for them. When TOI spoke to customers looking through designs, they said POP idols were much cheaper, offer greater scope for creative and are were sturdier. Despite clay idols being eco-friendly, most customers said they lacked the festive appeal of POP idols.Environmentalists TOI spoke to said POP idols can clog waterways and settle as sediment, creating conditions in which little or nothing can grow. “Even when artificial immersion ponds are used, the water is eventually discharged into lakes or rivers, while there is no effective system in place to recover and dispose of the POP. Ultimately, the material ends up back in the water ecosystem,” said environmentalist Narsimha Reddy. He added that once immersed, the idols gradually break down into smaller particles, contributing to persistent particulate pollution. Much of this waste eventually finds its way into Musi River.Meanwhile, a Telangana pollution control board (TGPCB) official said the board has been promoting clay Ganesh idols and has increased their distribution across GHMC area over the past two years, backed by awareness campaigns in schools, temples and on digital platforms. “We also monitor water quality before, during and after idol immersion, and the findings are made public,” the official said, adding that apart from distribution drives and awareness campaigns, no enforcement measures are currently in place.“This year, the biggest demand is for Mumbai-style Ganeshas,” said a worker at Narsing Singh’s Anjali Kala Arts workshop in Dhoolpet. “People want grand idols inspired by ‘Lalbaugcha Raja’, especially those designed in a semi-floating posture, where the idol appears in the air. Shiva-themed idols and Solapur designs are also selling well,” he added.Despite Hyderabad police advising organisers to keep public Ganesh idols below 15 feet and capping the maximum permissible height at 16 feet, several workshops continue to build idols well beyond the prescribed limit. Little visible enforcement was seen in Dhoolpet during a visit by TOI.Prices begin at around Rs 100 for smaller idols and climb to over Rs 2 lakh for the largest commissioned pieces. While many idols are crafted by local artisans from Hyderabad and neighbouring districts, some are transported from Solapur in Maharashtra. The supply chain behind each idol stretches across the country; coconut husk used for a sturdy internal framework arrives from Kerala, and POP is sourced from Rajasthan.
Source link
