PANAJI (GOA): In the year 2011, the Maharashtra govt. took a decision to promote Ganesh idols made of paper pulp. The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) filed a PIL with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against this decision. The NGT, on the basis of research conducted by various research institutes and environmentalists, arrived at the conclusion that paper pulp Ganesh idols cause high level of pollution. Thus, on September 30, 2016, the NGT brought a stay on Maharashtra govt. decision of promoting paper pulp Ganesh idols. The Goa govt. has always been instrumental in curbing environmental pollution. This has been proved by the measures taken by the Goa govt. to ban PoP (Plaster of Paris) idols some years ago. Likewise, the Goa govt. should also impose a ban on the ”highly polluting paper pulp” Ganesh idols. This demand was made to the Goa State Pollution Control Board by HJS’ Goa state co-ordinator, Dr. Manoj Solanki. This information was given by Dr. Manoj Solanki, Goa State Co-ordinator, of HJS in a press conference held in Panaji today.
10 kgs paper pulp idol pollutes 1000 litres of water. Poisonous elements such as zinc, chromium, cadmium, titanium oxide were found in this polluted water. According to the research conducted by ‘Environmental Protection Research Foundation’ oxygen levels fell down to zero in distilled water containing the said paper pulp. The Court agreed that this is extremely fatal for marine life. The Court also agreed to the fact that tiny particles formed from the dissolved paper pulp can get stuck up in the fins of fishes and may prove fatal to them by causing obstruction in their respiration.