Prasagraj: Potters and clay craftsmen of Alopibagh and adjoining areas, which sculpt pots of land and toys, without much work even though the lights and Diyas festivals – Diwali – become just around the corner.
Since preparation for the soil pot designer, God’s idol Ganesh and Dewi Laxmi and toys usually begin about a month before the festival, Potters who used to be busy crafting Diyas designers and colorful toys around this time could not work due to lack of good quality soil.
Shyam Babu Prajapati, a potter in Alopibagh, told Toi, “We can’t get good quality soil from the trans-ganga area as we usually get before.” “We used to get adequate rich quality land from the previous chatnag area, but now we face difficulties in getting the land we need to form DIYAS and toys even though paying Rs 3,500 per trolley,” he added.
Prajapati said the high price of land and several cartelization by land suppliers had violated business when at its peak during Diwali.
Other Potter, Babu Ram, Wisnu, Dinesh, Vinod, Rajesh and others also complained about the lack of land to make Diya in the number of Diwali.
Shyam further accused the land being discarded by suppliers near Andhawa (Jhunsi) and they face difficulties to regulate the required amount.
“We have to run away from the pillar to the post to get quality soil.
The high price of land thinning our savings because we have to throw extra to get a decent supply, and this will have an impact on our income too,” he added.
Anuj, another Potter, said, “The price of land has risen when the villagers do not allow us to take land from their respective villages.” He added that Groupism among suppliers put brakes on their work because they cannot regulate the land needed.
Towards the celebration season, Potters running miles to identify and organize good soil to make ground pots, toys, idols etc.
They usually regulate the land of trans-ganga, trans-yamuna and kaushambi because this belt has enough land.
Potters in Alopibagh, Daraganj arranged the ground from chatnag (trans-ganga) and even paid high prices for it.
“Organizing good quality soil has become a herculean task for us with every year.
We have to pay more for land in front of the celebration season,” said Rajesh.
Potters have asked the attention of district authorities to sort out their problems.