Students distribute self-made clay idols

Visakhapatnam: Students of Sri Prakash Vidyaniketan on Sunday distributed clay idols that they had earlier made as participants of a clay idol making competition.TNN

NGO collects used clay to make eco-friendly idols

Pune-based NGO Ecoexist has launched an initiative called Punarvartan 2023, which aims to collect used shadu clay sludge during and after Ganeshotsav to repurpose it. The campaign, now in its fourth year, covers Pune and Nashik and collected 23,000kg of clay in 2022, which was returned to artisans for reuse. The initiative also promotes the use of cow dung and natural materials for idols and aims to create a market for clay idols to reduce the usage of Plaster of Paris (PoP). The PMC has supported the campaign by training 200 sanitation workers and collaborating on clay collection.

Seizure of PoP idols jacks up prices of clay sculptures

A joint team of Nagpur Municipal Corporation and city police raided 14 shops in Nagpur and seized 103 Ganesh idols made of Plaster of Paris (PoP). A fine of 1.40 lakh was collected from the shop owners. The NMC has banned the use of PoP idols during the Ganesh festival and formed a special committee to take action against violators. Most shopkeepers hid their PoP idols, but the expert team helped identify and seize them. The demand for clay idols has increased due to the crackdown, resulting in higher prices.

RWAs favour clay idols, high prices dampen festive spirits

Residents in Hyderabad are preparing for Ganesh Chaturthi by installing pandals and buying clay idols. The United Federation of RWAs has distributed 40,000 clay idols free of cost to residents, with the aim of encouraging them to immerse the idols in designated artificial baby ponds or nearby water bodies. However, some RWAs are disappointed by the increase in the cost of clay idols this year, attributed to a shortage of clay materials due to heavy rains. Meanwhile, idol sellers are facing a lukewarm response from customers.