Arati Das, who writes on green issues in Goa and is a part of the Green Chaturthi campaign, said: 'The mud pots will certainly curtail water pollution, because earlier people had no option but to dump the heaps of nirmalya into the Mandovi river.'

'We have also started an online campaign which is aimed at educating people on the importance of celebrating a green Chaturthi in these environmentally challenging times,' Das said.

The campaign involves emails, Facebook causes, lobbying with government officials and informing people who matter about the importance of an eco-friendly Ganesh Chaturthi.

Another thrust of the online campaign is to create public opinion against the use of plaster of paris (PoP) idols, which although banned in the state, continue to have a market because they are comparatively cheap and have better finishing.

'Unlike clay idols that dissolve in water instantly, PoP contains gypsum, sulphur, phosphorus and magnesium floats, disintegrates slowly and in the process poisons the waters of lakes, ponds, rivers and seas,' said Tallulah D'Silva, also a part of the Green Chaturthi endeavour.