Karnataka Pollution Control Board officials seized more than 50 Plaster of Paris (PoP) Ganesha idols being transported towards Bengaluru from Hosur on Thursday morning, as authorities widened enforcement against the manufacture and sale of the idols ahead of the Ganesha festival.
The lorry was intercepted on NICE Road near the Attibele Toll while entering the city from Hosur. The vehicle was reportedly headed towards Hassan. The action followed information received by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) about more than 25 lorries carrying Ganesha idols through NICE Road, or National Highway 48, near Electronic City between 11 pm and 1 am on Wednesday.
A complaint was also made to the police helpline 112, following which police personnel reached the spot. KSPCB officials seized the idols found in the lorry, including a large idol.
The operation was followed by a separate inspection at a shop selling Ganesha idols. KSPCB officials, accompanied by an assistant engineer, an assistant executive engineer and a KSPCB marshal, found both clay and PoP idols of Gowri and Ganesha at the premises. Around 56 PoP idols were seized and handed over to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) for further action. The GBA imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the shop.
“Till date, we were concentrating on retail shops selling PoP idols across the city. However, this incident has forced us to rethink our strategy. We will now also keep a close eye on check posts and toll gates to ensure these idols do not enter Bengaluru from neighbouring states,” R Gokul, Member Secretary of the KSPCB, was quoted as saying.
The seizures form part of a wider enforcement operation conducted by special teams constituted by the Karnataka government. Between August 18 and September 9, the teams inspected 357 shops and godowns across the state and seized 2,564 PoP idols, according to the report.
The teams were constituted by Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Ramalinga Reddy. Four to five teams have been formed in each district to inspect premises involved in the manufacture, storage and sale of idols before and during the festival.
The latest action indicates that enforcement is being extended beyond retail outlets to transportation routes, check posts and toll gates used to bring PoP idols into Bengaluru from neighbouring states. Further action on the seized idols has been handed over to the GBA.
