Despite blanket ban on manufacture, sale and use of Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols in Maharashtra, such idols were widely available in city markets. The Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court ordered complete ban on PoP idols and directed authorities to implement the ban throughout the State. Whereas, the Nuisance Detection Squad (NDS) of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is seizing PoP idols and imposing fines on sellers for flouting the directives. According to NMC, under its drive to curb sale of PoP idols, its NDS seized a total of 798 PoP idols from 91 shops across city in last 11 days.

 

The civic team collected fine of Rs 9,10,000 from the shop-owners for not adhering to the order. Municipal Commissioner and Administrator Dr Abhijit Chaudhari in a review meeting with artisans and Ganesh Mandals recently, issued a strict warning against sale and use of PoP idols in city. Despite the warning, the city markets are flooded with banned PoP idols exposing stubbornness of manufacturers, sellers and even citizens who are ill-aware about the ban. Manoj Bind, an artisan from Chitar Oli informed The Hitavada that PoP idols are available in the markets even after restrictions. The mass manufacturing of such idols by companies is affecting sale of idols made of clay. “PoP idols of deities are available in the market and people are unable to differenciate between PoP and clay idol. Citizens purchase banned idols as they still finding place at various shops. The artisans like me in Chitar Oli area are struggling to get buyers.

 

Our business is getting hampered this year also due to availability of PoP idols in the markets,” said Bind. On August 27, NMC launched the drive against sale of PoP in city. Till September 7, the NDS searched a total 830 shops in city in which 91 shops had PoP idols. Every shop in the market who had PoP idols were fined with Rs 10,000 each but it is not enough to curb the sale and use of PoP idols during festival season. The administration has to impose complete ban on manufacturing and transporting of such idols from outside the city which is still going on without any proper checking.