As the Gauri-Ganesha festival approaches, BBMP has intensified its preparations, including the seizure of banned Plaster of Paris (POP) Ganesha idols. However, concerns have been raised regarding the disposal of these confiscated idols, with many questioning the lack of transparency and clear procedures.
Across Karnataka, around 5,000 POP idols have been seized by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), district administrations, and municipal corporations. The largest number of these idols were confiscated in Ramanagara, a key supplier to Bengaluru and North Karnataka districts. Despite similar seizures in previous years, experts note that there is still no clear information on how these idols are disposed of.
Ram Prasad, a volunteer from Friends of Lake, pointed out that while preparations for idol immersion in Kalyanis (traditional water bodies) are ongoing, there is no specific information on how these sites will handle the large sizes of the idols. He noted that despite a written commitment from idol manufacturers and sellers in 2016 to stop the production and sale of POP idols, the problem persists, and the disposal methods remain unclear.
Environmental regulations mandate that POP products be sent to Construction & Demolition (C&D) waste treatment plants. Rajesh K, head of Rock Crystal, a C&D waste processing plant in Kannur, mentioned that while raw materials were recycled before the COVID-19 pandemic, the quantity has since decreased.
BBMP Chief Engineer (Lake) Vijay Kumar stated that 40 Kalyanis in the city are available for idol immersion, and larger idols should be directed to Yadiyur, Sanki, and Halasuru lakes. Meanwhile, BBMP Health Special Commissioner Vikas Suralkar emphasized the need to educate the public about the importance of avoiding large idols.
