MARGAO: A beginning has been made towards having eco-friendly Ganesh idols at the sarvajanik celebrations as use of thermocol and plastic has been reduced significantly, but there is still a long way to go before a totally eco-friendly set up can be expected.
It may be recalled that Margao Municipal Council chairperson had a meeting with organizers of the sarvajanik Ganesh festival and asked them to have eco friendly celebrations and asked to avoid using thermocol and plastic for decorations.
However, the Margao Municipal Council Workers who have set up a sarvajanik Ganesh idol in the MMC garden have used plastic flowers to prepare a colourful arch above the Ganesh idol. To give credit to them, they have not used any thermocol for the decorations.
The organizers of the sarvajanik Ganesh festival at Pimpalkata too have abstained from using thermocol. However, they too used plastic flowers to decorate the sides and behind the Ganesh idols although there is one natural flower arrangement in front of the idol.
The organizers of the festival near Pandava Chapel have not used plastic but have relied upon themocol extensively. They have a large entrance with two pillars and a beam made of thermocol.
The police personnel too have used thermocol extensively for decorating the Ganesh idol installed by them at the district police headquarters building. While the Ganesh idol is seated on a chariot drawn by huge birds which are made of thermocol the side paneling is also made of thermocol.
However, these four sarvajanik Ganesh festival organizers have taken the security advisory given by the police quite seriously as all of them have CCTV cameras placed at different places to keep a watch on what is happening.
