Centre revokes PoP ban after protests by idol makers
(WorldNews India)

The Union environment ministry Friday deferred the ban on the use of Plaster of Paris (PoP), used for making idols, by one year. Environment minister Prakash Javadekar said a decision to postpone the ban by one year was taken to help artisans who have already made idols this year. “The ban on PoP for the Ganesh idol has been postponed for one year. This will not harm those artisans who have already made their idols this year,” Javadekar tweeted Friday. Idol makers, however, were directed to avoid the use of chemicals and dyes as much as possible this year. In an order dated May 13, the Central Pollution Control Board had banned the use of PoP, thermocol and single-use plastic to make or...