Hyderabad: Ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, Telangana’s Information and Public Relations Department has appealed to citizens to use eco-friendly clay idols instead of plaster of Paris (PoP) idols in order to protect the environment.
Special Commissioner of the department, C.H. Priyanka, distributed clay Ganesh idols to employees at the I&PR office in Hyderabad On Monday. She urged people across the state to celebrate the festival in a way that does not harm nature.
Call to avoid PoP idols
Speaking at the programme, Priyanka said Ganesh Chaturthi, celebrated for ten days every year, is one of the most important festivals in Telangana. She pointed out that PoP idols and chemically painted idols cause severe damage to lakes, rivers and soil when immersed.
“Instead of idols made from harmful chemicals, let us install clay idols and celebrate the festival with devotion and responsibility. Protecting the environment is everyone’s duty,” she said.
Clay idols were distributed to employees
The initiative at the I&PR office was aimed at setting an example for the public. The department has been actively promoting the use of natural clay idols to reduce water pollution and safeguard aquatic ecosystems during idol immersion ceremonies.
Officials join the awareness drive
Additional Directors D.S. Jagan and Joint Directors D. Srinivas and K. Venkataramana were present at the event, along with CIE Radhakishan, Deputy Directors M. Madhusudhan and C. Rajareddy, and other officials and staff of the department.
The campaign aligns with the state’s broader awareness drives encouraging eco-friendly practices during major festivals, especially Ganesh Chaturthi, which sees large-scale idol immersions in water bodies.
