Hindu organisation appeals to authorities to enforce PoP ban

PANAJI: The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) has taken cognisance of the continued sale of plaster of paris (PoP) Ganesh idols despite a ban on such idols being in place since 2002. The organisation has appealed to the North Goa collector to form a task force to strictly implement the ban.
“In spite of a ban on sale of PoP idols, it is found that they are available for sale in some parts of the state.Also, it is found that PoP idols with an outer finishing of clay are being sold in the market,” HJS stated in its memorandum to North Goa collector R Menaka.
In Goa, only clay idols are allowed as the material is non-toxic and dissolves in water as against plaster of paris ones which float.
“We request you to impose a complete ban on the sale of PoP Ganesh idols strictly. PoP idols with outer finishing of clay should also be banned in the state,” state convener for HJS Manoj Solanki said in the memorandum. He also requested the government to encourage idols made of ‘shadu’ clay.
The organisation also brought it to the notice of the North Goa collector that Ganesh idols made of paper pulp are also being sold. “This is against the science of spirituality. Also the paper pulp causes water pollution and the colours used therein cause chemical pollution,” HJS said.