Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Karnataka mandates eco-friendly clay Ganesh idols in gram panchayats
In the state of Karnataka in India, a big festival celebrating the elephant-headed god Ganesh is coming soon.
During this festival, people make statues called idols of Ganesh and place them in water.
Some idols are made from a material called Plaster of Paris and painted with bright colors.
The minister in charge, Eshwar Khandre, says these painted idols are bad for the environment.
When they go into the water, they release tiny amounts of dangerous metals like lead and mercury.
These metals can make fish, animals, and even people sick.
So the minister said people should use idols made only from clay, which is safe for nature.
Clay comes from the earth and does not hurt the water.
He also told local village offices to make sure nobody sells the bad Plaster of Paris idols.
This way, people can still enjoy their festival while keeping rivers and lakes clean.
Karnataka Minister Eshwar Khandre directed gram panchayats to permit only eco-friendly, unpainted clay Ganesh and Gauri idols for installation and immersion.
The directive was issued ahead of the Ganesh festival, which falls on September 14.
Immersion of Plaster of Paris idols coated with chemical paints will not be permitted because their paints contain hazardous heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium and lead.
The move follows a government order from September 15, 2023 banning the manufacture, transportation, sale and immersion of PoP idols, which the Karnataka High Court directed authorities to strictly enforce.
Officials were asked to seek the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board's assistance and run awareness campaigns on the harmful effects of PoP idols.
The minister cited Section 33A of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, which prohibits the immersion of PoP idols in rivers, lakes, ponds, tanks, wells and other water bodies.
- Who
- Karnataka's Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar Khandre, who issued the directive to gram panchayats.
- What
- Only eco-friendly, unpainted clay Ganesh and Gauri idols may be installed and immersed, while Plaster of Paris idols coated with chemical paints are banned.
- When
- The direction was issued on a Wednesday ahead of the Ganesh festival on September 14; a related government order was issued on September 15, 2023.
- Where
- Within gram panchayat limits in Karnataka, affecting lakes, rivers, ponds, tanks, wells and other water bodies across the state.
- Why
- To protect water bodies and the environment from heavy metals released by PoP idols, which pose risks to human and animal health and threaten aquatic life.
- Minister
- Eshwar Khandre (Rural Development and Panchayat Raj)
- Permitted idols
- Eco-friendly, unpainted clay Ganesh and Gauri idols
- Banned idols
- Plaster of Paris idols coated with chemical paints
- Festival date
- September 14 (Ganesh festival)
- Legal basis
- Section 33A, Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
- Prior government order
- September 15, 2023, banning PoP idol manufacture, transport, sale and immersion
- Hazardous substances
- Mercury, cadmium, lead, sulphur, pigments, gypsum, magnesium
- Enforcement bodies
- Karnataka High Court, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board