While the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), in coordination with municipality officials and the police, has seized over 3,000 Ganesha idols made of Plaster of Paris (PoP), they are clueless as to what to do with them.

It is for the first time that the department has seized so many idols before they reach the sellers, while the focus in the previous years was largely on creating awareness among people not to purchase PoP idols to avoid pollution of waterbodies.

However, the drive has created the problem of disposal.

Godowns sealed

R. Gokul, member-secretary, KSPCB, said, admitted that they were yet to plan how to dispose of these idols. “In places or godowns where there are large number of idols, we have sealed them completely. But we are yet to take a call on what to do with them. We will make sure they don’t reach the sellers,” he explained.

Mr. Gokul said that Karnataka mainly receives idols from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. “Once we start seizing the idols, manufacturers and buyers will automatically get alerted. This will in turn help us bring down the demand in the market. By next year, there will be scarcity or no PoP idols at all,” he said.

V. Ramprasad, co-founder, Friends of Lakes (FoL), suggested that the seized idols could be recycled and used for other purposes.

Focus on paint

An expert involved in the construction and demolition of waste-processing explained that it is not the PoP that is harmful, but the paint used on idols.

“Around 50 idols made of PoP will yield material that is less than one load of tractor. These idols will majorly have paper, coir and other materials. Since the idols are hollow, it floats on the water unlike clay idols that settle in the bed of the lake. The PoP when powdered is nothing but gypsum which can be used to provide nutrition to the soil. The authorities should understand that the paint used on PoP idols is dangerous so they must find ways to tackle it.”