Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation has instructed manufacturers and sellers to mark every plaster of Paris (POP) Ganesh idol with a clearly visible red circle, following directions issued by the Maharashtra government’s Environment and Climate Change Department.
The red marking is intended to help distinguish POP idols from those made of shadu clay, particularly during the Ganesh festival, when the number of privately installed and public Ganesh idols rises across the city. The civic administration has also instructed businesses involved in making and selling the idols to maintain a dedicated register recording each transaction.
According to the directions reported by Loksatta, the red circle must be painted on the back of every POP idol using oil paint. The mark must be clearly visible to facilitate identification of the material used in the idol. The instructions apply to commercial manufacturers and sellers operating in Vasai-Virar.
The measures follow Maharashtra government resolutions dated August 1, 2025, and September 1, 2026, according to the report. The directions form part of the state’s effort to address the environmental concerns associated with POP idols and make it easier to differentiate them from shadu clay idols.
The Vasai-Virar civic administration held a meeting at the municipal headquarters with local idol manufacturers and sellers to explain the government’s guidelines. The corporation said it had already instructed idol makers to comply strictly with the marking requirement and maintain transaction records in the prescribed register.
Vasai-Virar observes Ganeshotsav on a large scale, and the number of household and public idols in the city has increased in recent years. The municipal communication specifically asks manufacturers and vendors to place the red mark on the rear of POP idols and record every purchase and sale.
The requirement creates an identification mechanism for the civic administration and buyers at a time when POP and shadu clay idols are sold through the same festival market. The report does not specify the penalties for non-compliance, the inspection schedule, or the total number of manufacturers and sellers covered by the directions.
The municipal corporation’s immediate next step is to implement the instructions among local idol makers and vendors and ensure that the red-marking and record-keeping requirements are followed during the festival season.
