Despite curbs, over 4,000 PoP Ganesha idols immersed in Bengaluru
Despite strict enforcement efforts and warnings from the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), over 4,000 plaster of Paris (PoP) Ganesha idols were immersed in Bengaluru during the two-day immersion period on September 14 and 15. The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) data showed these immersions occurred across the city's five corporations, highlighting the continued challenge in curbing environmentally harmful practices.
Why it matters
This incident underscores the ongoing conflict between cultural traditions and environmental protection, demonstrating the difficulties authorities face in enforcing regulations against pollution, particularly during religious festivals, and its impact on local ecosystems.
Despite an enforcement effort to curb plaster of Paris (PoP) Ganesha idols this year, the streets of Bengaluru still witnessed thousands of PoP idols being immersed during the two-day immersion period on September 14 and 15.
Data from the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) shows that at least 4,280 PoP idols were immersed across the five city corporations during the two days. This included 3,512 idols on September 14 and 768 on September 15.
The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), in coordination with municipality officials and the police, launched a strict enforcement drive and seized over 3,000 Ganesha idols made of PoP. The KSPCB also warned against using immersing Ganesha idols made with PoP idols in lakes, stating that it is a violation of law and is punishable by a penalty and imprisonment ranging from a minimum of one and a half years up to six years.
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