Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Nearly one in every five Ganesh idol makers and sellers registered in Goa has declared the use of Plaster of Paris (PoP) in idols ahead of the Ganesh festival.
Data from the Goa State Pollution Control Board’s (GSPCB) Ganesh Idol Registration Portal shows that 90 of the 470 registrations, or 19.1%, reported that their idols contain PoP. These registrations account for 22,886 idols out of the total 77,136 idols recorded on the portal.
The remaining 380 registrations, or 80.9%, declared that their idols did not contain PoP. The registration process ended on August 14.
The GSPCB has permitted the use of up to 20% PoP in Ganesh idols, subject to compliance with prescribed norms. The Board has also stated that registered units will be inspected and idols may undergo laboratory testing to verify the material composition declared during registration.
The registration data has also provided authorities with information on the supply chain ahead of the festival. Among 211 registrants who provided details of a specific supplier, location or business, 57 identified Kolhapur in Maharashtra as their source. Another 17 applicants specifically mentioned Maharashtra as their source state.
Vaishali Arts in Kolhapur was the most frequently named supplier, with 34 registered applicants identifying it as their source. Most of these buyers were from Bardez, followed by Bicholim and Sattari.
Karpe Arts and Bapat Camp were each mentioned by 22 registrants, while Kalpana Arts was named by eight.
The data also shows that Goa has its own local supply network, with 39 registrants reporting that they source idols within the State.
Among the 191 registrations involving selling activity, Bicholim recorded the highest number with 53 sellers, followed by Bardez with 47. Together, the two talukas account for 52.3% of all registered sellers in Goa.
The portal recorded 77,136 idols across 470 registrations after duplicate submissions were merged and the highest declared idol count from each applicant was considered.
The registration database is expected to assist authorities in monitoring idol makers and sellers, particularly those who have declared the use of PoP, through inspections and laboratory testing during the festival period.
