Panaji: The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has relaxed its norms for Ganesh idols, permitting the use of up to 20% Plaster of Paris (PoP) in idols made from shadu clay/chikanmati, following a review of last year’s sampling and analysis of clay used for idol manufacturing. Earlier, the board had initiated action against the manufacture, import and sale of idols containing more than 10% PoP.At its recent meeting, the board noted that, based on directions from the department of environment and findings from previous sampling of idols, it had earlier permitted the use of shadu clay/chikanmati with up to 10% PoP content for the manufacture of Ganesh idols.“Last year, the Board sealed a number of shops that were found to be selling Ganesh idols made from shadu/clay/chikanmati with PoP content of more than 10%. The board has now re-examined this issue and after further examination has now concluded that use of shadu/clay/chikanmati with upto 20% PoP content for the manufacture of Ganesh Idols can be permitted,” the Board said at its meeting held earlier this month.The board has accordingly informed the department of environment of its decision.Earlier this year, the GSPCB developed and launched an online portal on which Ganesh idol artisans and vendors are required to register. At the meeting, the board said artisans or vendors who fail to register on the portal will not be allowed to sell Ganesh idols.As part of the registration process, artisans and vendors will now have to submit an undertaking stating that the Ganesh idols contain less than 20% PoP. The Board said registration on the portal has already begun following awareness programmes conducted on the new system.“The Board shall monitor such water bodies where immersion takes place. These water bodies/immersion sites are to be identified by local bodies, which are required to be intimated to GSPCB well in advance. The department of environment & climate change, has accordingly issued directions under section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, for implementation,” the Board noted at its meeting.The board said it will monitor identified water bodies and immersion sites both before and after the immersion of Ganesh idols.
