Panaji: To enable a more systematic crackdown on plaster of paris (PoP) idols ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi, the Goa state pollution control board (GSPCB) has introduced mandatory registration for idol makers and sellers for the first time. However, traditional artisans involved in making of the clay Ganesh idols for generations state that the problem of PoP idol sale is not just a regulation issue.A demand and supply gap in traditional idols, perceived user convenience, rising raw material and labour costs are all driving PoP idol infiltration in the market, said the artisans.On the GSPCB portal, 457 registrations have taken place in all in the very first year of implementation. Of these registrations, 365 are chitrashalas, 184 are distributors, and 43 are stockists, altogether proposing to sell over 60,000 idols.Ponda-based clay idol artisan Sushant Velingkar, however, said that the actual demand for Ganesh idols during the festival is much higher than the number of clay idols traditional makers are willing to produce, due to various reasons.“I don’t think enough idols are made within Goa to meet the supply. Govt enforcement is getting stricter on import of PoP idols from other states and their sale in Goa. But what happens to the demand for idols left unmet. Artisans need to grab the opportunity and make additional idols. After PoP has stopped, we should increase the numbers we are making. I make 300 idols, starting my work from May itself. If a new customer comes to me, I do not refuse,” said Velingkar.However, artisans admit that procuring labour locally has become an issue and those from Uttar Pradesh and other states have to be engaged. Many artisans have decided to move away from the trade as it takes up to four months to make the idols, but it also means having to be without work for the rest of the year as no regular job offers liberty of a four month annual break for the idol making.Yadnyesh Karmalkar from Carambolim said that the clay traditional freely available to make the idols also has to be purchased now by families involved in the business, driving up charges.“Many customers find PoP idols convenient as they are lighter in weight. Especially if someone wants a bigger idol, they say it is too difficult to lift the heavy clay one. PoP idols can be mass produced so it is just market economics that those sellers have bigger profit margin for lesser effort. It takes me almost two months to make around 100 idols. A PoP idol maker can make 500 to 600 in the same time for sale,” said Karmalkar.Last year, the GSPCB increased the PoP content that can be used in an idol to 20% from the earlier 10%, though the idols should be painted using eco-friendly water based, biodegradable and non-toxic natural dyes for paints.At the same time, the fines have also gone higher to up to Rs 50,000 for violations. The department of environment issued directives last month calling for stricter border checks and joint inspection of chitrashalas by the GSPCB, deputy collectors, and others to prevent PoP idols from creeping into the markets.“Such PoP idols are made from semi-hydrated calcium sulphate manufactured by calcination process and such idols when immersed in water do not dissolve or disintegrate fast, thereby causing irreversible environmental effects on the riverine/coastal ecology or the ecosystem of any water body, which in turn causes adverse environmental effects,” the department circular states.The chemical paints used on PoP idols also contain poisonous elements like mercury, zinc oxide, chromium, lead, and cadmium, which can cause cancer when it enters the human body.Officials said that the process has already begun of collecting samples from chitrashalas during joint inspections for analysis.Vendors found not registered on the new portal during inspections will also be asked to register with a late fee of Rs 3,000.“Idols that do not comply with the standards will be transported to and disposed of at an authorized common hazardous waste disposal facility at the vendor’s cost,” an official said.Even as norms have been put in place with higher fines this year to stop PoP sales, artisans said that stricter enforcement is needed on par with the norms.“Every year, two or three customers are turning to PoP idols, especially if they prefer bigger idols. Authorities should ensure that not a single PoP idols enters Goa for sale, that would be the desired enforcement,” said an artisan.
