Clay idols curry little favour from city denizens

VIJAYAWADA: In what could be a dampener for eco-friendly Ganesha campaign launched by the state government and various NGOs ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi on Monday, clay idols of Ganesha have found very few takers in the city.

Shockingly, even Ganesh pandal organisers chose idols made of plaster of paris, chemicals and multlple colours instead of opting for clay idols. Over 95 per cent of organisers, who applied through the unified police services at the city police commissionerate for setting up the pandals in various parts of the city, aver that they opted for POP-made Ganesha idols. As per the applications filed with the police commissionerate, 70 per cent of organisers bought idols which are above 10 ft height, 20 per cent purchased 7-ft tall idols and the remaining opted for below 7-ft high idols.

An idol-maker from Madhuranagar, Hari Babu, said that his family has been making big clay idols for the last 20 years in the city. "We wanted to promote clay idols but they hardly evoke eyeballs from people. I have seen people running to get hold of POP-made idols while ignoring to take even a look at the clay idols," he said.

Another clay idol-maker from Autonagar Subramanya Sharma said it is ironical that people continue to go for glitzy idols at a time when so much noise is made over pollution these idols cause. "There is absolutely no demand for big and small clay idols from Vijayawadites. Since there is no patronage for these eco-friendly idols, we have cut down on making of these idols this year," he told TOI. Like Hari Babu, Sharma is planning to take up making of earthen pots after the festive season.

"There are only a few takers for the clay idols. We have placed very few orders for clay Ganesh idols ranging from 5 ft to 10 ft," Seshendra Chary, an idol seller at Nunna, explained.

Some die-hards cannot digest the fact that Vijayawadites have turned their face on clay idols despite a series of campaigns and awareness programmes for promoting eco-friendly Ganeshas. "There is a need to educate people on the various aspects of eco-friendly Ganesha idols such as their size, colours and immersion methods," said Paleti Rama Rao, a senior citizen, who advocates a total ban on POP-made idols.

In fact, city-based NGOs conducted awareness programmes with the help of city police commissioner Gautam Sawang and VMC commissioner G Veerapandian to promote the use of clay idols and urged residents and pandal organisers to go for these eco-friendly idols. But the response has been shocking.

A senior official of AP Pollution Control Board said that pollution in river Krishna can be considerably reduced by immersing clay idols as POP idols pollute the waters due to their artificial colours and chemicals.