Deputy Commissioner Divya PraBhu GRJ checks idols that were confiscated in the village of Garag in Dharwad Taluk. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
In front of the Ganesh Festival, the Dharwad district, the whip and the Ganesh idles made from POP (plaster from Paris), and this week a large number of pop idols were confiscated in Dharwad Taluk.
Deputy Commissioner Divy PraBhu Grj, who spoke to Prespersons after verifying the seized pop idols in Kalabhavan Ground in Dharwad, said she ordered officials to register the criminal case against those who illegally imposed banned pop idols.
The Commissioner’s deputy said that when the inspections were set up on the border between the districts and in the city limits, some people began to procure pop idols in advance and deposit them in the areas of Mofussil and on the outskirts of the city. The authorities were therefore ordered to find such storage equipment and confiscate idols, she said.
She said that the seizure of 184 pop idols was made in the village of Garag after the tip of the general public. A working group composed of the State Council for Control Council in Karnataka, the Income Department, the Gram Panchayat and the police were established to carry out the air raid and the seizure of idols, she said.
During the air raid, the members of the working group found that Vinayak Kalappa Pattar of Garag Village gained and deposited 184 pop idols of different sizes and was working on the final touch and painting. The idols were stored in two places, one in Shivoji Extension and the other in Sangolli Rayanna Extension. The accused is wholesale and retail retailer of idols.
The Commissioner’s deputy said that during the investigation the accused revealed that all idols were obtained from Kolhapur in Mahari and the police superintendent of the police were asked to take the investigation and take the necessary steps.
Semi -confiscated pop idols have now been stored in Kalabhavan in Dharwad and the plan is to be destroyed according to the rules.
Head officer KSPCB Jagadish IH, developing officer Panchayat Shashidhar Gandhad, Gangadhar Manakathath Municipal Officer, Sub-Invpector Garag Police Sidrama Unnad and others.
Appeal
Meanwhile, the deputy of the Commissioner referred to the general public and Ganesh Mandals to use only Ganesh idols made of mud because they are environmentally friendly and also considered ideal for worship.
She said pop idols are danger to nature because they do not dissolve in water and also contaminate water points. People should directly refuse pop idols in their own interest, she said.
Working group
The Commissioner’s representative also said that as the Ganesh Festival is approaching quickly, the meeting of the Coordination Committee of various departments is held and villages, taluk and district workforce are active.
Together with the instructions for implementing programs of raising awareness, the authorities were ordered to carry out raids and seized forbidden pop idols.
Published – June 26, 2025 17:28
