“I opted for ready built POP idol as it is difficult to form with soil and clay. Lack of time is another problem” said college goer. “I think of environment but I am helpless in involvement,” added another college goer student. In India, this year, about 5 lakh Ganesh idols are to be immersed in streams, lakes, rivers, and seas, etc., on the last day of immersion. Due to lack of awareness on eco-friendly practices and understanding about spiritual and cultural principles have been hidden by recent trends. The POP idols contain harmful chemicals such as mercury, cadium, lead, carbon, arsenic and accessories that are made from plastic and thermocol to decorate these idols are not biodegradable. Generally, POP idols are toxic and have various environmental impacts. 

“There is no serious effort by government to ensure that people purchase only clay idols,” said NGO employee. “No one care about government system, in our country everyone like go in own way,” added another NGO employee.

It would right to say that good proportion of Indian society don’t recognize global warming and greenhouse gasses effects. Some people even feel discouraged by religious organizations from immersing idols in artificial tanks. Like each year, this year too Ganesh festivals finish up without any appropriate explication of immersion. There is no restriction under the law on the immersion of idols in natural water resources. The State and Central government may have issued immersion guidelines but they are not obligatory. At end of the day we Indians always agree to “chalta hai attitude”.