PoP Ganesha idols selling near Ram Mandir in Kalaburagi on Sunday evening
The winning pandal will receive Rs 15,000, while the second- and third-place entries will get Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively. The awards will be presented at a programme scheduled on Nov 1. Meanwhile, the Yadgir district administration has announced cash prizes for the three best Ganesha installations in the city through its Bhavaikyata Samiti, a committee promoting communal harmony. Stay updated with the latest Hubballi news.
Stressing the need for responsible celebrations, he said choosing eco-friendly idols would help protect the environment for future generations. Environmentalist Avinash Pujari appealed to the public to opt for clay idols instead of PoP. He warned that the chemical colours and materials used in PoP idols have long-term environmental consequences and can pollute water sources. Download the TOI App.
Kalaburagi : As preparations gather pace for Ganesh Chaturthi across Kalaburagi, Bidar and Yadgir districts, grand pandals are coming up in several localities even as banned plaster of paris (PoP) idols coated with chemical paints continue to find their way into the market. Ganesh committees are sourcing idols not only from local manufacturers but also from neighbouring districts and adjoining Telangana and Maharashtra. With Swarnagauri and Varasiddhi Vinayaka Chaturthi celebrations around the corner, PoP idols have already begun arriving in several areas.
The Karnataka govt and the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) have repeatedly directed organisers and idol makers to use only eco-friendly Ganesha idols to curb pollution and protect water bodies and aquatic life from harmful chemicals. Under the guidelines, the manufacture, storage, sale and use of PoP idols and those coated with chemical paints are prohibited. However, implementation at the grassroots level continues to be a challenge, with such idols remaining widely available despite the ban.