By Kartik Lokhande
Insolent
makers of idols, ignorant buyers, or lethargic Nagpur Municipal
Corporation (NMC), who should be blamed for the recurring menace of
idols of deities made of Plaster of Paris (PoP)?
Every year, NMC
makes a sheepish appeal to devotees not to buy idols made of PoP. It
also appeals vendors and makers not to sell or make PoP idols. However,
PoP idols flood the markets ahead of Ganeshotsav and Navratri in a
boldly disrespectful manner. Everyone -- makers, vendors, buyers,
officials, NGOs, activists -- agrees that PoP idols should not be used
as those pollute the water bodies in which they are immersed at the end
of festivities. However, everyone has equally nonchalant attitude to the
serious issue.
As a result, the day next to immersion of idols,
some groups are seen moving in a suspicious manner near the water
bodies. They bring out ‘immersed’ idols of deities from water bodies,
stock those on the embankments, engage children to ‘rob’ the idols of
their decorative garlands etc, and then silently take all these idols to
places unknown. The next year, the same idols are brought out,
repainted and repaired here and there, and sold out in the markets at
price higher than that the previous year. The year 2014 is no exception
to this, as can be seen in the photographs taken on Tuesday, the day
after Anant Chaturdashi when idols of Lord Ganesha were immersed.
Interestingly,
since Anant Chaturdashi last year, ‘The Hitavada’ had been asking NMC’s
Health Committee chief Ramesh Singare, Deputy Director (Health) Dr
Milind Ganvir and other authorities of NMC Health Department about
zone-wise number of idols marked as those made of PoP, zone-wise number
of vendors and makers against whom action was taken, and zone-wise
number of idols collected through artificial tanks kept at various
places. However, till date, NMC Health Department could not give the
details of action taken. Privately, officials of Health Department said
that though NMC had appealed to makers and vendors of idols to mark PoP
idols separately nobody did that. Besides, NMC officials did not take
the implementation part seriously and there was no inspection of idols
in shops.
Obviously, the stated policy of NMC against PoP idols
remains what it is -- stated. Of course, there are innocent buyers who
face the problems in identifying PoP idols from those made of clay. Many
of the devotees have started immersing idols in buckets at their homes.
They come to know that they bought PoP idol only after they see that
the idol is intact even after two or three months.
At the end of
festivities, everyone conveniently forgets the ‘PoP factor’ and
concentrates merely on collection and removal of ‘Nirmalya’. In the
process, water bodies of the city continue to remain polluted not only
by the PoP idols but also by the insolence, ignorance, and lack of
commitment of all those involved.
Will it ever change?
(09-09-14)
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