MP's Jhabua POP Idol Production Raises Pollution Concerns Ahead Of Ganeshotsav
Meghnagar (Madhya Pradesh): Preparations for Ganeshotsav, the upcoming Navratri festival and other religious celebrations have intensified across Jhabua district, but the reported large-scale production of idols made from plaster of Paris (POP) has raised environmental concerns and questions over official monitoring. POP idols are reportedly being manufactured at several locations, including an…
In Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh, preparations for the upcoming Ganeshotsav festival and other religious celebrations have ramped up, but environmental worries have arisen due to the extensive POP idol production. POP idols, made from plaster of Paris, are being manufactured at various sites, including an open area at Bafna Compound on Jhabua Road in Meghnagar.
Similar activities have also been observed in Jhabua, Thandla, and Petlawad. The issue lies in the transportation of POP to these locations via trucks and trailers, with the finished idols then distributed to towns and villages throughout the district. Once immersed in water bodies after the festivities, POP idols, along with paints and decorative materials, pose a significant threat to water pollution due to their non-biodegradable nature.
Central Pollution Control Board guidelines advocate for the use of natural and biodegradable materials for idols, prohibiting their manufacture from POP. Despite administrative directives on idol making and immersion, residents are questioning how large-scale production can persist openly. Ashok Ramawat, Regional Officer of the Pollution Control Board, highlighted that the National Green Tribunal has prohibited the production of POP idols, stating that POP does not dissolve in water and that substandard colors used on idols further pollute water sources.
He added that in municipal areas, the Deputy Superintendent of Police or Chief Municipal Officer holds the authority to take action.
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