The Hindu               05.09.2013

Ganeshas going green here

It started as a small idea and took 15 years to begin
taking shape. Amid concerns of large-scale immersion of idols damaging
the city’s water bodies during Vinayaka Chaturthi, the use of
eco-friendly idols was initiated in 1998. Over the years, the idea has
been catching on.

Moving away from the Plaster of
Paris (PoP) idols, that also come with synthetic colours, both seen as
causing harm to water bodies, more and more people in the city have
begun moving towards eco-friendly or ‘Green’ Ganesha idols. In the last
two years, there has been considerable rise in the demand for the clay
idols. Some suppliers say its demand has outstripped availability.

Most
key government wings from the GHMC and HMDA to the AP Pollution Control
Board this year, are readying clay idols in large numbers. At the same
time, voluntary bodies and environmental groups are in the forefront of
promoting and making available these idols. The GHMC, for the second
consecutive year, has made arrangements to provide moulds and material
to schools for students to prepare their own clay idols. Interested
schools have been asked to contact the Health and Sanitation wing for
clay and blocks. During a meeting with representatives of educational
institutions and NGOs, GHMC Commissioner M.T. Krishna Babu has assured
all possible help in propagating the concept of eco-friendly idols
during the coming festivities.

This year, the HMDA
has put nearly 30,000 eight-inch clay idols at a cost of Rs.12.50
through distribution centres across the city from September 6 to 8. For
more details, log onto www.hmda.gov.in.

Demand for
eco-friendly idols has gone up and the lack of availability was observed
last year, says M. Vijaya Bhaskar, secretary of the Rotary Club of
Greater Hyderabad. This year, the club has made arrangements for around
25,000 idols. “We have already received bookings for 14,000 idols. In
next three days, we might exhaust our supply,” Mr. Bhaskar said.

He
underscored the need to increase the availability as more and more were
shifting to the use of clay idols. “There is a positive response but
the supply is not meeting the demand,” he quipped. For the last few
years, Vijay Ram of the Society for Awareness and Vision on Environment
(SAVE) has been leaving no stone unturned to popularise these idols. Mr.
Ram is now ready with more than 2,000 idols of 4.5 feet size. Another
500 have been made available in Warangal. “The response has been
unexpected and tremendous. From next year, we are planning to start
training artisans in the preparation of these idols in other districts
too,” he said.

The APPCB is looking at providing 150 idols of five-feet size, one for each ward in the GHMC area.

“Last
year, there were no clay idols left in the market even when there was
demand,” recalled W.G. Prasanna Kumar, Director, AP National Green
Corps.

One of the earliest proponents of the clay idols, Mr. Kumar said the concept began with focus on idols taken for home.

T. Lalith Singh

15
years after its first use, the idea of the eco-friendly Ganesh idol has
caught on in the city, heralding a whiff of fresh air for the city’s
already polluted water bodies. This year, Hyderabad’s civic bodies are
leaving no stone unturned in promoting the idea.