BENGALURU
Local municipal authorities have enforced a comprehensive prohibition on the manufacture, warehousing, transit, distribution, and traditional water immersion of Plaster of Paris (POP) and chemically dyed Ganesha idols throughout the territorial boundaries of the Bengaluru East City Corporation. Announced ahead of the upcoming Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations, the executive order aims to preserve aquatic ecosystems, prevent chemical contamination in local water bodies, and protect public health. Commissioner D.S. Ramesh formally released the directive, instructing civic personnel to maintain rigorous oversight across all municipal zones.
Protecting water bodies and public health:
The statutory restrictions target materials that inflict severe ecological damage on urban aquatic resources. Specifically, the production, storage, and commercial exchange of idols constructed from POP and thermocol are entirely outlawed. Furthermore, the application of hazardous synthetic pigments containing heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium is strictly forbidden. Authorities emphasized that immersing such chemically treated artifacts in natural water bodies—including lakes, rivers, canals, and wells—accelerates water toxicity and destroys aquatic flora and fauna. In response, municipal leadership is steering the community toward sustainable alternatives, urging residents to embrace idols crafted exclusively from natural clay and decorated with organic, plant-based color extracts. Citizens must also utilize exclusively designated artificial tanks and authorized municipal immersion facilities rather than traditional natural water bodies.
Rigorous enforcement and legal penalties:
To guarantee compliance, Commissioner Ramesh has ordered field inspectors to conduct unannounced, high-frequency sweeps of manufacturing units, storage warehouses, retail markets, and commercial corridors across all municipal wards. Any discovered contraband will face immediate confiscation, accompanied by substantial financial penalties and formal criminal proceedings under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, alongside relevant judicial mandates and state administrative orders. Retailers and stockists have been issued a final warning to clear their inventories of prohibited goods voluntarily and transition entirely to eco-friendly clay alternatives. Special surveillance teams will also be deployed around designated water bodies during the peak festival immersion window to intercept non-compliant items and manage municipal waste collection effectively.
