Lok Sabha Question No. 167 (STARRED), answered on 2019-11-29
Subject: Ban on Idols Made with Toxic Materials
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Kotagiri Sridhar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. 167

TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.11.2019

## Ban on Idols Made with Toxic Materials

## *167. SHRI SRIDHAR KOTAGIRI:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has imposed ban on Ganesh idols made with plaster of paris, paints and other synthetics and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to stop making Ganesh idols using the aforementioned toxic materials;
- (c) whether the Government has approached technical institutions to come up with solutions based on locally available materials that are bio-degradable, sustainable for fifteen days, mobile, vertically stable with capacity to withstand tall heights and can serve as fish feed; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a), (b), (c) AND (d), OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION  NO.  *167  FOR  ANSWER  ON  29/11/2019  REGARDING  BAN  ON  IDOLS MADE WITH TOXIC MATERIALS

- (a) & (b) Central Pollution Control Board ( CPCB)issued guidelines entitled 'Guidelines for Idol  Immersion'  in  the  year  2010  which  prohibits  use  of  toxic  paints  and  non-biodegradable chemical  dyes  and  encourage  use  of  traditional  clay  for  idol  making.  The  guidelines  were circulated  by  CPCB  to  all  the  States/UTs  to  ensure  its  implementation.Salient  features  of  the guidelines are as follows:
- (i) Idols  should  be  made  from  natural  materials  as  described  in  the  holy  scripts.  Use  of traditional  clay  for  idol  making  rather  than  baked  clay,  plaster  of  Paris,  etc.  may  be encouraged, allowed and promoted.
- (ii) Painting of Idols should be discouraged. In case idols are to be painted, water soluble and nontoxic natural dyes should be used. Use of toxic and non- biodegradable chemical dyes for painting idols should be strictlyprohibited.
- (iii) Worship material like flowers, vastras (clothes), decorating material (made of paper and plastic)  etc.  should  be  removed  before  immersion  of  idols.  Bio-  degradable  materials should be collected separately for recycling or composting. Non-biodegradable materials should be collected separately for disposal in sanitary landfills. Clothes may be sent to local orphanhouse(s).
- (iv) Public should be educated on ill effects of immersion in the holy water bodies through mass awarenessprogramme.
- (v) The 'Idol Immersion Points' shall be cordoned off and barricaded. Synthetic liner may be placed in the bottom, well in advance. The said liner shall be removed on completion of immersion ceremony so that remains of idols would be brought to the bank. Bamboo and wooden  logs,  if  any  would  be  reused.  Clay,  etc.  may  be  taken  to  sanitary  land  fill fordisposal.
- (vi) Concerned  SPCB/PCC  should  conduct  water  quality  assessment  of  the  water  body, preferably in Class-I cities (having population more than one lac), at three stages i.e. preimmersion, during immersion and post immersion.
- (vii) All the SPCBs/PCCs, local & Urban bodies,etc. in the respective States/UTsare required to ensure implementation of guidelines circulated by CPCB.

In  accordance  with  the  CPCB  guideline,  the  State  Government  of  Karnataka  has  issued directions on 20 th July, 2016 banning the use of Plaster of Paris (PoP) in making idols. The Govt. of Delhi during 2018 directed all the concerned agencies in Delhi to create artificial ponds for green immersion of idols and prohibited immersion activity on the occasion of Ganesh Puja and

Durga Puja both. To make the arrangements, assignments of duties were given to the different departments and district administration.

The  State  Government  of  Andhra  Pradesh,Maharashtra,  and  Kerala  also  issued  following instructions in this regard :

- (i) Proposed to make use of clay, may be in combination with ecofriendly material.
- (ii) Recommended to encourage the use of alternative  recyclable  material  like  paper  pulp, metal,  wood,  vegetative  fiber,  stone  etc.    which  could  be  easily  disintegrated/  reused/ recycled.
- (iii) Restrict use of colors containing metals like Hg, Pb, Cd, Ni, Zn etc.
- (iv) Promote  use  of  certified  eco-friendly  natural  and/or  biodegradable  colors,  which  are nontoxic, water soluble and free from harmful metals.
- (v) Use of Natural colors  used  in  food  products  and  permitted  in  Pharmaceuticals  may  be preferred.
- (vi) Recyclable and or biodegradable material is recommended to use for decoration.
- (vii) Consultation with NGOs and mass manufactures of idols to encourage making of idols with mud.

(c) & (d)The CPCB has decided to review the existing guidelines to make them more effective in addressing the environmental issues associated with idol immersion. The technical institutions like  NEERI  and  Central  Water  Commission  and  other  concerned  departments  have  been consultedin this regard.

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