Bengaluru, July 23 -- The early arrival of plaster of Paris (POP) Ganesh idols in Bengaluru markets has sparked fresh concerns over the enforcement of restrictions on environmentally harmful idols, even after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for the use of eco-friendly alternatives during this year's Ganesh Chaturthi festival.

Ganesh Chaturthi is scheduled to be celebrated on September 14, but traders have already started displaying POP idols across parts of the city. The development comes despite repeated campaigns highlighting the environmental hazards caused by POP idols during immersion.

In his June 28 "Mann Ki Baat" programme, Modi appealed to citizens to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi using clay idols and avoid POP idols to protect...