MUMBAI, July 14 -- In a bid to make the upcoming Ganeshotsav more environmentally friendly, the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) is pulling out all the stops; it is distributing free shadu clay and eco-friendly paint and offering artists space to craft the idols. By Saturday, the civic body had already distributed 858 tonnes of shadu clay to 477 idol makers, a record that surpasses the previous years. In 2024, around 600 tonnes of clay was distributed by BMC, while in 2023, the year the offer began, it was around 400 tonnes. "The BMC has been giving shadu clay to all those who applied," said Prashant Sapkale, deputy commissioner of Zone 2 and BMC coordinator of the Ganesh festival. "The applications began from February, and till now, most requests have already come in. The demand might go up slightly," he further said on the matter. Besides the clay, the BMC has also offered free temporary sheds, two or three per ward, to craft idols on a first-come-first-serve basis. It will also be supplying eco-friendly white paint for the idols. As per specifications, the "ecofriendly colour should be water-soluble and non-toxic to aquatic species ie free from heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, chromium and mercury". The civic body will also be conducting awareness activities to encourage people to celebrate the upcoming Ganeshotsav festival, scheduled for August 27, in a more eco-friendly manner. While appreciative of the BMC's efforts, Naresh Dahibavkar, president of the Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti (BSGSS), said, "Smaller Ganpati idols worshipped at home are being made of clay but there are not many clay idol makers in Mumbai. Clay is also heavier than POP, and not suitable for sarvajanik big idols." Following the Bombay high court order in June, which lifted the ban on manufacturing and selling plaster of Paris (POP) idols but refused to allow their immersion in natural waters....