India, June 9 -- A report on the use of Plaster of Paris (PoP) in the making of Ganesh idols has recommended conditional use of the material, a topic that has long been a subject of debate. The report, prepared by the Rajiv Gandhi Science and Technology Commission (RGSAT), a statutory body set up by the state, has recommended the use of PoP idols in large water bodies, provided they are painted with eco-friendly paints. It has also recommended 'retrievable immersions', which allows the reuse of PoP.

The report, submitted to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on April 29, outlines both short-term and long-term solutions, keeping in mind environmental concerns. The report was submitted on a request by Ashish Shelar, Maharashtra's m...