The Gujarat government has decided to carry out a scientific study on the environment impact of immersion of idols made out of Plaster of Paris (PoP) on the basis of which revised and comprehensive directions will be issued for artisans in the state.
"As directed by the National Green Tribunal, the state government is soon setting up an expert panel to carry out a scientific study on the impact of immersion of PoP idols during festivals in the state and whether idols made out of PoP are pollutants or not," a top officer in Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) said.
The state government's decision came after the principal bench of the National Green Tribunal (GNT) quashed and set aside Gujarat government's directions issued on January 23, 2012 imposing a ban on the use of PoP for making idols of Ganesh and other gods and goddesses.
A group of 14 idol makers, mostly from Surat, Navsari, Valsad and Bilimora had challenged the resolution passed by Principal Secretary Forest and Environment Department under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Initially, they had moved the Gujarat High Court seeking redressal but a division bench of the Chief Justice has transferred the matter to NGT, in view of the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Bhopal Gas Peedith Mahila Udyog Sangathan & others in August 2012.
In its resolution, the Gujarat Government directed that the idols should be made from natural materials as described in holy scripts.
"Idols should be made of traditional clay and not from use of baked clay, Plaster of Paris. PoP idols don't dissolve completely in water and cause cloggs and other problems in the river or other reservoirs where people immerse it during the festivals. To avoid environment degradation, the government has proposed clay idols," said GPCB Chairman K U Mistry.
All idol makers, who moved the NGT have claimed in their application that they are making/sculpting idols of all gods and goddesses, including Lord Ganesh, since many years in Gujarat and they are manufactured by using PoP.
"Srishti Eco-Research Institute (SERI) in Pune has conducted scientific study on use of PoP with reference to immersion of idols made from PoP. The scientific report has revealed that although PoP is not easily soluble in water, yet it has no poisonous effect and does not cause any serious or adverse effect on the environment," they claimed.
