Kolkata: Faced with hurdles of persistent rain, delayed clay supplies and orders, Kumartuli’s idol-makers are working longer hours to complete Ganesh Puja orders. They are also busy crafting idols for Durga Puja.The weather has played the spoilsport at this critical time of the year, which is crucial for drying of the idols. Rain has also increased the risk of damage. “We are caught in fear of damage that can happen to the idols due to moisture,” said Mintu Pal, adviser to the Kumartuli Mritshilpo Sanskritik Samity.Babu Pal, secretary of the Samity, said though electric fans were being used in the workshops, those were no alternative to traditional sun-drying. If the process of drying the clay structures gets delayed, the overall work of adorning the idols with paints and accessories will take a hit. “Ganesh Puja is in the second week of Sept and we have to deliver the idols much before that. It has been raining most of the days, delaying crucial work,” said Pal.The weather has also made the sculpting process more labour-intensive. According to artisans, work that would normally take a few hours can stretch over days when the clay remains moist. Workshop owners are, therefore, having to bring in additional workers and pay them nearly 50% more for working overtime.There had been a shortage of clay earlier this year, following restrictions on riverbank soil mining. This had stalled work for more than a month. Although clay supply has since resumed, artisans say the lost time has affected the production calendar.Artist Pashupati Rudra Pal said a truckload of river clay that earlier cost around Rs 15,000, now costs at least Rs 22,000. “The price of jute twine has also risen sharply. Other raw materials have also turned costlier. Moisture has further increased labour costs. A sculpting job that normally takes around four hours can now take a day and a half, forcing workshop owners to hire additional labour,” said Pal.
