Next month, Maghi Ganeshotsav will be celebrated all over the state. Many sculptors in Mumbai have started preparations for the festival. However, the ban on Plaster of Paris (POP), which was suspended till December 31, 2020, has been re-imposed from January 1. The sculptors are of the opinion that the ban should be postponed for some more time as Ganeshotsav is just months away. On the occasion of Maghi Ganeshotsav, which will be celebrated on February 15 this year, Ganesh idols of 'POP' are in great demand from Ganesh devotees.
But, this year, these sculptors are finding it difficult to make idols of Ganesh due to the ban on the use of 'Plaster of Paris'. Therefore, the makers have demanded that the POP ban should be postponed and they should be given some relief during these testing times.
In this context, the President of the Sculptors' Association Anna Tondwalkar will soon meet Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar. The Public Ganeshotsav Coordinating Committee had also given a statement of adjournment to Javadekar in this regard. But, no answer has been received yet. Therefore, it will be important to see whether the Ganesh idol of POP will be allowed this year or will the government remain firm on this stand.
According to the guidelines announced by the central government include the use of POP with some environmentally friendly alternatives such as wood sawdust and tree waste. But since their availability and price are beyond the reach of the common man, the makers cannot afford it. Not only this, but they also face many difficulties in getting the soil. Clay idols can be made but with various restriction. Hence, many claim that there is no real substitute for POP for tall and durable sculptures. Therefore, the sculptors have requested the government to provide the option to use POP along with eco-friendly materials.
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