Pollution board collects samples of Ganesh idols washed ashore, to check for PoP material

Panaji: A team from the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has collected samples of Ganesh idols washed ashore at Caranzalem beach after immersion. The samples will be sent for testing to ascertain whether they are made of the banned plaster of paris (PoP) material, said GSPCB chairperson Mahesh Patil. He added that the lab results will then be received within four days.

Patil said that in the run-up to the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, the pollution control board had carried out a drive to check the material of the Ganesh idols on sale in the market. “We carried out the checking around a month ago at 77 different locations across Goa and analysed the PoP content in the idols. At four locations, PoP idols were found— three in North Goa and one in South Goa. As the powers to take action lie with the collectors, we had sent the details of the shop to them for further action,” Patil said.

Despite the drive, reports of immersed Ganesh idols having washed ashore on Caranzalem beach surfaced on Monday. A team from the GSPCB immediately went to the location to check and found that two idols had been washed ashore.

“Samples have been sent for testing. We have to still confirm that they are PoP idols. There is a high likelihood they are. Clay idols do not usually wash ashore, but still a confirmation is needed as the water level rises during the rainy season and the sea can throw up even heavy objects like wooden logs,” said Patil.

The GSPCB chairperson said even though over the years, sale of PoP idols have come down in Goa, such idols tend to infiltrate the market just a couple of days before Ganesh Chaturthi. “As far as our knowledge goes, mostly Goans are not involved in the sale of PoP idols. It is people from outside who come with the idol at the last minute during the festival to make sales,” he said.