Dharwad
Despite the ban, PoP Ganesha idols have entered the market and the authorities are fighting to control them. The officials went to the spot where the PoP Ganapati idol was sold and conducted a raid. A team led by Sub-Divisional Officer Ashok Teli, in the presence of Pollution Control Board and Corporation officials, visited places near Lingayat Bhavan in the city and conducted surprise raids. Since 2016, PoP made Ganesha idols have been banned in the state on the grounds that it will be a major threat to the water source and it harms environment. In most parts of north Karnataka, pop idols from Maharashtra have quietly arrived in the market and officials have stepped into the field to prevent them. They are selling PoP idols in the name of clay idols in the market in city. Despite being warned many times about this, some people are not listening. Hence, they are in the process of seizing the PoP idols and registering a case. In the first phase of the raid, it was found that some traders were selling the PoP idol by applying mud on it. Such idol’s sample has been seized and sent for examination. In some places, clay-mixed PoP, artificially painted PoP, and husk-mixed PpP Ganapati idols have been found. People should also be aware while purchasing these harmful idols. He also requested that the PoP idol should not be used in view of the future of the next generation.
