Every year over 500 idols of Lord Ganesh in and around Jajpur district are immersed in the rivers and streams after the Puja is over. And that raises the environmental concerns after all the fun and frolics have gone. However, to make this year’s Ganesh festival an environment-friendly one, many school authorities and Puja organisers have placed order for eco-friendly idols, while the idol makers have hugely appreciated the public mood. “Many idols are made of plaster of Paris that takes longer time to dissolve. It also reduces the oxygen level in the water. The use of baked clay, coconut husk, aluminum foil, clothes impedes the smooth flow of the river. Baked clay, which does not dissolve in water, raises the river bed level. The colors and polish on the idols are toxic in nature, said environmentalist and Peoples for Animal (PFA) district unit secretary Sudhansu Parida. There is a need to provide some respite to the river and other water bodies, which are already so filthy. The immersion of idols leads to an addition of various pollutants, including dissolved oxygen, bio-chemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, conductivity, turbidity, total dissolved solids and metals, hence there is a need to crack the whip, added Parida. He further said that it is high time idol makers were educated to make pollution free idols. They should use non-toxic colors to paint the idols. Prior to immersion, materials such as flowers, clothes and decorating items should be removed and collected for recycling. “This year we placed an order for eco-friendly Ganesh idol for our school,” said Netaji Model School principal Ajaya Kumar at Bari. After getting orders of eco-friendly Ganesh idols from many educational institutions, we have started this year using natural colours. We use turmeric for yellow colour and leaf for green colour. We are using natural colours to prevent our rivers from getting polluted, said Kumbharsahi based artist Prakash Behera. “Earlier, the idols used to be made from materials like plaster of Paris, which created water pollution, resulting in the death of fish and other aquatic animals. But the idols this year are being made of clay, and they are also being applied with natural colours, which are safe and will not pollute the water bodies,” added Behera. Ranjan Behera another idol maker of Jajpur town said, “We are already popularising environment friendly idols made of clay and having non-toxic natural colours. But the matter of worry is that there are many puja organisers who want glitz and glamour and hence we have to apply chemicals for making idols attractive.”