It has been almost three years since the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) ban on plaster of paris (PoP) idols and the BMC is still struggling to implement the rule. The civic body has failed to come up with a viable eco-friendly alternative to shadu clay, which the central body has recommended. The civic body on Wednesday met the representatives of sculptors and coordinating committees of Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav to convince them to stop using PoP for idols. This unproductive meeting shows the city is nowhere close to adopting a non-polluting medium for festivals.

Representatives of Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and the deputy commissioner of police were also present at the meeting called by Deputy Municipal Commissioner Ramakant Biradar. The murtikars told the BMC that more time and bigger space are needed to make eco-friendly clay sculptures.