Govt cites Kakodkar's PoP report, he says it's harmful

Time of India

4 days ago

State culture minister Ashish Shelar has said that a report by the Rajiv Gandhi Science and Technology Commission (RGSTC) has cleared the way for immersion of large Plaster of Paris idols in the sea, but the man who anchored the study is sounding a cautionary note: he says even large idols need a higher proportion of eco-friendly materials and zero chemical colorants to avoid worsening water pollution.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
In an exclusive interview to TOI, the head of the RGSTC and former Atomic Energy Commission chief, Anil Kakodkar, said, "First, we need public awareness to curb the trend of making idols bigger each year." Stressing on the need to reduce use of PoP, he said, "it may not be an extreme environmental hazard, but it's definitely harmful."
Excerpts:
Q: Govt asked the RGSTC to do a study on impact of PoP idols. Could you tell us about it?
Anil Kakodkar: The number of Ganesha idols made and immersed each year keeps increasing.
Then there's an issue of clay availability. Traditional clay—shadu as we call it in Marathi—is limited. Clay is a finite resource and used in many things like pottery and urban infrastructure.
On the other hand, Plaster of Paris is widely available, used in construction—a common material, especially for decorative applications. Over time, PoP has become popular among idol makers too. It's become a livelihood issue for many people.
Now construction debris, including PoP, usually ends up in landfills. The issue arises when PoP idols are immersed in water. Clay idols dissolve relatively quickly, but PoP takes much longer. This adds to siltation in water bodies, which is already silted by natural sediment movement. So, we're adding more material to lakes and rivers.
Q: That increases sediment in riverbeds and lakes.
A: Yes. Also, this isn't just about sediment.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
It affects aquatic life. It may not be an extreme environmental hazard, but it's definitely harmful. The bigger issue is the colorants—many of them contain toxic heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and mercury. These are far more dangerous. So while PoP is a concern, chemical colors are a bigger one. I would say they contribute more to water pollution.
Q: But if there are problems, how does your report indicate that immersion of PoP idols can be allowed in the sea?
A: The solution must protect livelihoods, environment, and be consistent with people's sentiments.
So, for small idols, we suggested immersions in artificial ponds lined with impervious material. After immersion, residues can be removed and treated as construction waste.
Q: And for big idols?
A: First, we need public awareness to curb the trend of making idols bigger each year. For large idols, immersion must happen only in large water bodies—deep sea or major flowing rivers—and only natural, non-toxic colors should be used, no chemical colors.
Immersion must be far from places where water is used by humans or animals.
For large idols, while clay is an option, we should promote eco-friendly alternatives. Scaffolding of grass or fibre covered with papier-mâché can be used. These are less harmful.
For large idols, the key is to choose locations with high water volume for better dilution and use natural materials. And if PoP must be used, then we need studies—to understand how long idols take to dissolve and what concentration of pollutants they release.
Based on this, norms for immersion can be developed.
Q: You're saying it's better to shift to a higher proportion of eco-friendly material in larger idols?
A: Correct. And no chemical colorants.
Q: But the idol-making industry heavily relies on PoP and these chemical colors?
A: That's why awareness and engagement are key. Natural colors can be used, and artists can innovate with eco-friendly solutions.
Q: Have these recommendations been submitted to govt?
A: They're under discussion.
Q: But there's not much time for Ganesh Chaturthi.
A: True. But we hope a broader consensus evolves. This is a societal issue, and society must take ownership.
Q: One last question. In Mumbai and Thane, water bodies are already highly polluted. Doesn't that complicate it?
A: Existing pollution isn't a justification for adding more.