BENGALURU: In the wake of Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) enforcing a strict ban on the sale and making of Plaster of Paris (PoP) Ganesha idols, those in the business have demanded that KSPCB and the state government should relax the ban for at least a year.

One of the PoP idol makers M. Sridhar told Deccan Chronicle that following a huge demand for PoP Ganesha idols, the traditional clay idol makers were forced take up making of PoP idols, unmindful of its impact on the environment and aquatic bodies.

Before completely banning the PoP idols, the government and KSPCB must clamp certain conditions regarding restricting the height of the idol to seven feet, ensure adequate supply of clay and curb entry of PoP idols and moulds from Maharashtra at check posts. It is a cottage industry in these areas, Sridhar pointed out.

Since there is a tremendous demand and making idols is a time consuming affair, the idol making process for subsequent year begins soon after Ganesha festival and there is currently a huge stock, he explained.

A huge amount of money has been invested for making of idols, for artists and for moulds of different forms of Ganesha idols. If the sale is relaxed for a year, this stock can be cleared and losses averted, Sridhar added.

Over 50,000 idols ranging from 2-15 feet comes to Bengaluru and other cities from Kolhapur, Pune, Sholapur and Mumbai. In addition, almost an equal number of PoP idols are created in and around the city. About 50 families of traditional artisans from Kumbara community are into the field of making idols, he added.

Kumbaras from Pottery Town and other areas are purely into making clay idols. However, there is a huge shortage of clay. Since the physical condition of lakes have been changed and have been encroached upon, Kumabaras have to go as long as Anekal and other areas to procure clay. There also getting clay is a tough job, Sridhar said.

Another potter, S. Bala Subramanya said that the artists would meet the KSPCB chairman and appraise him of their problems and urge him to relax the ban for a year.