THE HINDU

Paper pulp idols to curb water pollution

MUMBAI, SEPT. 12. In an attempt to reduce pollution caused by the immersion of Ganesh idols in water bodiesa city-based religious trust has embarked on a novelproject to spread awareness about an `environment-friendly' Ganesh idol.

The Shri Satguru Aniruddha Upasana Trust has put forth the idea of `water-soluble' paper pulp idols to replace idols made of Plaster of Paris, which pollute water. The trust has taken the initiative to promote the idea of chemical-free Ganesh idols. The organisation has a 13-point programme drawn up by their guru, `Bapu'.

"One aspect of this 13-point scheme is the recycling of paper. We already make various items such as toys and alphabet blocks from `papier-mâché'. So this year when Bapu asked us to try something similar for the Ganesh idol, we designed an idol made entirely from paper pulp," said Vilas Muley of the trust.

The traditional idols are made of `shaduchi mati' (clay), but since these are not commercially viable, the `murtikaars' (idol-makers) use Plaster of Paris, which is cheap and convenient for mass production, he said. — PTI