Mysore/Mysuru, Aug. 23 -- With the State Government banning sale of Ganesha idols made of Plaster of Paris (PoP), the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) Environment Officers conducted surprise raids on various shops to check for the sale of PoP idols.

During the raids, the officers noticed two PoP idols at one of the shops located behind Uma Talkies near Gandhi Square. The vendor was fined Rs. 5,000 for stocking the banned idols. The officials did not seize the idol as the vendor said he would send the idols back to Bengaluru from where he had brought.

While the sale of paper mould and clay idols are allowed, the officials are also checking for the use of harmful chemicals. The officials said, while clay idols were heavy in nature and would ...