10 Aug 2022  |   06:15am IST

Excise Inspectors to keep a check on PoP Ganesh idols entering State

The sale and use of PoP Ganesh idols are banned in the State. The Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated across Goa from August 31.

Team Herald

PANJIM: Ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi, the State government has directed Excise Inspectors at the check posts and outposts to prevent the entry of vehicles carrying Ganesh idols made of Plaster of Paris (PoP) into the State from neighbouring States. 

In a memorandum issued on Tuesday, Excise Department has stepped up checking at borders to ensure that the transporters do not bring in PoP Ganesh idols, whose immersion in water bodies causes adverse environmental effects. 

Excise Commissioner Narayan Gad has issued instructions to the Excise Inspectors at Pernem, Bicholim, Sattari, Sanguem and Canacona to be on alert. 

 “The concerned Taluka In-Charges are hereby directed to inform the officials at check-posts/outposts to prevent the entry of vehicles and divert the same back to the source, failing which to hand over the vehicle to the police authorities at the nearest police check post/police station,” Gad said. 

The memorandum has been issued following communication from the Directorate of Environment, requesting to check the entry of vehicles or goods carriers entering the State carrying PoP Ganesh idols from neighbouring States for sale in Goa during the annual festival. 

“These PoP idols, when immersed in water do not dissolve or disintegrate fast, thereby causing irreversible environmental effects on the riverine/coastal ecology or the ecosystem of any water body, which in turn causes adverse environmental effects,” Gad said. 

The sale and use of PoP Ganesh idols are banned in the State. The Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated across Goa from August 31.