In Hyderabad, a group of environmental enthusiasts organized a cycling and walking rally to promote the use of eco-friendly clay Ganesh idols for Ganesh Chaturthi. This event took place on Sunday and aimed at raising awareness about environmentally friendly practices.
The rally was organized by the Kapra Lake Revival Group in partnership with the Hyderabad Cycling Revolution. It started at ECIL and continued to Neredmet. During the event, activists spoke to local residents about the negative impacts of using Plaster of Paris (PoP) for making idols. They encouraged people to choose clay idols and consider sustainable options for immersing them.
The primary goal of the rally was to highlight the harm caused to water bodies by immersing PoP Ganesh statues. This practice damages the lake ecosystems significantly. Additionally, the campaign aimed to promote the advantages of cycling and walking as sustainable activities.
Despite a ban on PoP idols, they are still available in markets. With Ganesh Chaturthi approaching, the State government has not taken effective measures to stop their sale or educate the public. As a result, the organizers decided to launch their own campaign in different areas to urge people to use small clay Ganesh idols that can be immersed at home. For larger idols, they suggested using artificial ponds for immersion.
K Prakash, an environmental activist from Hanamkonda, expressed frustration over the State government’s inaction against PoP idol makers. Despite the ban, artisans continue to produce these idols, and there has been no government-led awareness campaign. Prakash called for concrete solutions from the government to address the issue of PoP idols.
