MUMBAI, INDIA, July 27, 2014 (dna India): Even as only one month remains for Ganesh Chaturthi, the statue sculptors and manufacturers in the city are already applying the finishing touches to the Ganesha statues. In a bid to ensure an eco-friendly festival, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) have tied up with the Ganesh statue makers to ensure that more eco-friendly statues flood the market at reasonable rates.
While it is common knowledge that Plaster of Paris (PoP) statues are cheaper than clay statues, The manufacturers are making efforts to ensure that price difference between them idols made can be slashed from a comparative 50 per cent to 25 – 30 per cent this year.
The MPCB will also start with awareness and promotion programs to increase use of clay statues. “There will be advertisements in television channels and local newspapers, workshops for citizens and training for clay statue makers as well to help them understand how to promote the eco friendly statues. All this will start in early August,” said J. S. Salunkhe, sub regional officer, MPCB.