Karnataka enforcement teams seized 2,564 Plaster of Paris (PoP) Ganesha idols after inspecting 357 shops and warehouses statewide. Minister Ramalinga Reddy said PoP idols pollute water and harm aquatic life when immersed.
PoP idols immersed in Bengaluru's lakes add to water pollution and damage aquatic ecosystems. Buying clay idols instead keeps neighbourhood water bodies cleaner after the festival.
Check that the Ganesha idol you buy is biodegradable clay, not banned Plaster of Paris.