Mumbai PoP idol ban: ‘It is a myth that clay idols can’t be big’

After the Bombay High Courtrsquos interim order on January 30 prohibiting the immersion of Plaster of Paris POP idols in natural water bodies the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC and police were forced to stop POP idol immersions during the recent Maghi Ganesh festival sparking controversy Vasant Raje president of the Shree Ganesh Murtikar Samitee and a strong advocate for clay idols spoke to midday at his Gorai workshop regarding the clay idols and its benefits While many believed clay idols had certain limitations Raje clarified misconceptions and emphasised their viability as an ecofriendly alternativeVasant Raje president of Shree Ganesh Murtikala Samitee at his workshop in Gorai Borivli West PicsNimesh DaveFollowing the high courtrsquos strict stance against POP idols the BMC has introduced new guidelines for sculptors seeking permission to erect pandals for idolmaking As per the guidelines sculptors must comply with the Central Pollution Control Boardrsquos CPCB 2020 directive which bans POP Ganesh idols and promotes ecofriendly festivals The government is also keen on enforcing these directives of CPCBThe BMCs January 17 guidelines mandate that sculptors display notices at pandal entrances stating that only ecofriendly Ganesh idols are being made These rules also apply to Durga idol makers during Navratri To support the transition the BMC has committed to providing shadu claymdashan ecofriendly alternativemdashwith each administrative zone receiving 100 kg of the materialQampA with Vasant Raje president of the Shree Ganesh Murtikar SamiteeExcerpts from the interviewA traditional artist crafting a clay idol using a mould at a Gorai workshopWhy insist on clay idolsClay idols are part of our tradition and are environmentally friendly Unlike POP clay dissolves completely in water preventing pollution We are simply asking for compliance with the CPCBrsquos 2020 guidelines which mandate the use of ecofriendly idolsWhatrsquos wrong with POP idolsThe ban on POP idols is logical POP does not dissolve in water causing severe pollution The day after immersion undissolved idols pile up in water bodies worsening the situation This is why CPCB set these guidelines and we are merely urging people to follow themCan large Ganesh idols be made from clayYes absolutely Itrsquos a myth that clay idols cannot be as tall as Mumbairsquos iconic idols Several artists create clay idols up to 15ndash20 feet For instance Girgaoncha Raja a 25foot idol is made entirely of clayMumbai needs over 25 lakh Ganesh idols Can they all be made from clayYes there is no shortage of clay In fact over 3 lakh clay idols are already prepared The claim of a clay shortage is misinformation spread to oppose ecofriendly idols If authorities enforce the guidelines strictly enough clay idols will be ready before the festival Additionally making clay idols generates employment particularly for women as they require skilled artistry unlike POP idols which are massproduced by workers We can also reuse clay after immersion of the idols in artificial pondsPOP idols are cheaper than clay idols Isnrsquot that a concernThe price difference is minormdashonly about 15ndash25 per cent A 16inch clay idol costs around R4000 whereas a POP idol costs R3000 However the environmental benefits of clay idols far outweigh this cost difference Moreover with BMC providing free clay traditional Ganesh idols can be made available at nearly the same cost as POP idolsMaking clay idols takes more time Wonrsquot this be a problemYes clay idols require 2ndash3 days to make while POP idols are faster However mouldmaking techniques have evolved allowing us to produce basic clay idol structures efficiently In this climate clay idols dry in a day and even during monsoons they set within 2ndash3 days Opposing clay idols on this basis is baseless Our tradition has always been about clay idols and itrsquos time we uphold that legacy