Agra: The Allahabad High Court in 2013 had imposed a ban on idol immersion in river Yamuna. The orders were made taking cognizance of massive pollution caused by idols made of Plaster of Paris (POP). On Wednesday, ahead of the Ganapati festival, statues made of POP were openly sold and purchased in different parts of the city.As per an estimate, over 50,000 idols were purchased in the city on Wednesday. Out of these, 5000 were major Ganesh idols which would be established in pandals on Thursday. Majority of these were made of POP.Traditionally, the idols were made of mud and painted with natural colors. But a majority of idols are made up of POP and coated with harmful paints containing heavy metals, all of which end up in the rivers on last day of the 10-day-long Ganpati festival.Speaking to TOI, doctor and a city based environmentalist, Sharad Gupta, said, “Idols made of mud get dissolved in water in 10-15 minutes whereas POP takes years to dissolve. However, it is the paint, applied to decorate these mud and POP idols which is fatal as it is poisonous, carcinogenic and contains lethal metals like lead and mercury which cause skin infections and could be fatal if consumed directly. It also has a bad effect on the aquatic life. Local authorities do not take the matter seriously. Steps are taken only on papers. People at large lack awareness. POP idols are more popular considering their cheap prices and also because they glitter more than the mud ones.”KP Singh, additional DM (city), said, “Idol immersion in rivers is totally prohibited. Inspectors had been directed to ensure that sale and purchase of POP idols does not take place. Soon artificial ponds will be developed nearby river in different parts of the city for idol immersion. Suitable arrangements will be made to ensure no harm is caused to the river.”According to reports of the Central Pollution Control Board, approximately 1,00,000 idols are immersed in water bodies of India annually. The biological oxygen demand (BOD) levels in river increases dramatically after immersion.

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