In full swing, efforts are underway to distribute over seven lakh clay Ganpati idols to the people of Greater Hyderabad, said officials.
According to a report in TOI on Monday regarding clay Ganesha idol makers raising doubts over their sale and confusion over norms, the I&PR department issued a two-page official release saying the HMDA has set a target for five lakh clay idols, while TSPCB has set a target for two lakh free idols.
In addition, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation has already begun preparing clay idols throughout the city.
All government agencies have sprung into action and enlisted non-governmental organizations to make idols, even though idol makers warn that switching from poppy-made idols to clay ones is difficult. There are already clay idols in residential areas.
For Ganesh immersion in 2021, the civic body had arranged 30 artificial ponds, in which over 70,000 idols were immersed.
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More than 3 lakh Ganesh pandals are installed every year, and more than 90% feature PoP idols.
According to the official release, this year’s Utsav Committee’s decision to build a 50-foot giant Khairatabad Ganesh idol with clay is a good sign and indicates to PoP idol makers that clay idols are better for the environment.
Ganesh clay idols look similar to PoP idols, but they are more expensive. We used mouldings for PoP so that the idol could be finished easily. About 45 tons of clay will be tested and approved in the Kolkata labs when it comes to clay. Four members of the Ganesh Utsav committee will bring the clay from Kolkata,” said Chinna Swamy Rajendran, who has built Ganesh idols for Khairatabad for the past three decades. During idol-making, Rajendran also mentioned that 30 tons of steel are needed, as well as coir and wooden sticks. In terms of weight, clay idols may weigh up to 45 to 50 tons.
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