Bengaluru: Ganesha Chaturthi is being celebrated on September 5. Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, which has been laying emphasis on conservation of lakes and other water bodies by minimizing pollution, has completely banned use of Lord Ganesha idols made of plaster of paris material.

The board has decided to discuss the issue celebrating nature-friendly Ganesha festival at meetings of officials from different departments. People making Ganesha idols out of plaster of paris, selling them, and transporting them, will be acted against as per law. Towards this end soon orders will be issued, the board stated.

A meeting of officials of the board discussed the ill-affects of immersing idols made from plaster of paris and painted idols in lakes and other water sources. Chairman of the board, Laxman, member secretary,S Shantappa, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike joint commissioner, Sarfaraz Khan, and forest conservator, Pathak, participated in the meeting.

It has been decided to withdraw licences of concerns engaged in making idols from paster of paris and paints and selling them. The check posts at the borders will be given responsibility of stopping entry of banned idols into the state. The board plans to give wide publicity to these issues and wants local bodies to work in close coordination with police department to achieve good results.