With the steady rise of Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols flooding Goa’s markets ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi, traditional clay idol-making centers in Morjim and surrounding areas are reportedly shutting down. Despite a ban on making and sale of Ganesh idols made out of PoP in Goa, the bordering villages of the state are witnessing an intrusion of such idols ahead of the festival. The inflow of PoP idols is mainly from Maharashtra. The state police need to keep a strict check on state borders.
While idols of clay dissolve within hours of immersion, PoP idols may take several months to fully dissolve and the chemicals in them pose a threat to aquatic life. The government has increased the subsidy from Rs. 100 to Rs. 200 per idol, but is of little help if PoP idols continue to be sold in the market. In order to help the artisans the government needs to make the clay idols available through its various outlets. An exhibition-cum-sale of clay idols organized by the government ahead of the festival will also help.
