'Can't ban PoP idols, it involves sentiments'

Palike's awareness drives to help reduce their use

The BBMP has been able to curb only 40% of the Plaster of Paris (PoP) Ganesha idols in the city, a year after the government banned the of use of these  idols as an environment friendly measure.

Also, devotees are allowed to immerse PoP idols in the lakes this year. Mayor G Padmavathi, on Wednesday, said the civic body had created awareness among the people not to use PoP through streetplays and other modes.

Immersion allowed

“If people come to the lakes to immerse PoP idols, we cannot stop them. By doing so, we will be hurting the religious sentiments of the people,” said Padmavathi.

“Last year, many people kept PoP idols on the streets and abandoned them. Ultimately, they have to be immersed in lakes,” she said.

BBMP has taken precautionary measures by introducing mobile immersion tankers. As many as such 297 tankers will be deployed across the city. People can immerse idols in 36 lakes where nodal officers and police will be deployed to supervise the process.

Padmavathi urged the citizens to celebrate the festival using small idols which would cause less pollution.

BBMP commissioner N Manjunatha Prasad said, “We have made all necessary lighting arrangements and barricaded spots where idols will be immersed. To avoid any mishaps like last year, only professionals will do the immersion. These professionals know how to swim.”

Two separate containers will also be kept at the immersion sites to help segregate dry and wet waste. The immersion will be allowed till 10.30 pm.

Mobile tankers will be placed at a number of places between 4 pm -10.30 pm on August.