Nagpur: The crackdown on idols of Lord Ganesh made of Plaster of Paris (PoP) continues in Nagpur as Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) machinery on the second day of its drive seized 58 idols and recovered a fine of Rs 95,000 from the violators.
The civic body is ensuring that the 10-day festival is celebrated in an environment-friendly way. Still some sellers are trying to subvert the ban imposed on sale of PoP idols and continue displaying and selling such idols to the citizens. The members of Nuisance Detection Squad (NDS) continued their task of inspection at various shops selling idols of Lord Ganesh in the city.
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04 April 2025
On Thursday, the NDS members visited 60 shops in all 10 zones. At Gandhibagh Zone, the team found 46 idols made of PoP at a shop. Immediately the idols were seized and Rs 60,000 fine collected from the sellers. In Satranjipura Zone, the team found five PoP idols and seized them after recovering Rs 10,000 fine. In the action in Ashi Nagar Zone, the team seized seven PoP idols and collected fine of Rs 20,000 from the violators of the ban.
On Wednesday, in first case, Rs 10,000 fine was collected from one of the sellers in Gandhibag Zone. So far, 141 shops have been checked by the NDS team in 10 zones. Total fine collected, so far, has reached Rs 1,00,000.
Submit affidavits promising no PoP idols, NMC asks Ganesh Mandals:
Following the Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court’s directives to enforce a strict ban on Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols for the upcoming Ganeshotsav festival, a joint meeting of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and the police department was held on Thursday at the police headquarters. The meeting mandated all Ganesh Mandals must submit an affidavit on a Rs 100 stamp paper, affirming that the Lord Ganesh idols they install will be made exclusively from clay, not PoP.
The meeting, chaired by Commissioner of Police Ravinder Singal, was also attended by NMC Additional Commissioner Anchal Goyal and Deputy Commissioner of Solid Waste Management Department Dr Gajendra Mahalle. The measures aim to prevent use of PoP idols, which are banned due to their harmful environmental impact.
Singal directed all police officers to strictly adhere to High Court’s orders and fully support the NMC in implementing the ban on PoP idols. Municipal Commissioner and Administrator Abhijit Chaudhari emphasized that any Ganeshotsav Mandal violating the terms of the affidavit would face criminal charges. The NMC has also issued clear instructions to prohibit the manufacture, sale, or storage of PoP idols within city limits.
“If a PoP idol is found, the mandal’s permission will be immediately revoked. If blacklisted, they will be barred from participation the following year, and all office bearers and members will face criminal charges,” said an NMC official.
