Jalpaiguri: Jalpaiguri artisans on Sunday threatened to stop making idols if orders are placed with rivals from outside the district, casting a cloud on Durga Puja and other festivals this year.

The warning was issued at a conference here attended by 1,000-odd local artisans who said they were forced to do so as their rivals from Nadia, Midnapur, Bankura were taking away orders at lower rates.

They demanded immediate administrative intervention. A forthcoming annual meeting of the Jalpaiguri artisans is likely to stick to the decision.

Jalpaiguri Ratan Pal, president of the Jalpaiguri district Artisans' Association, said of the over 1,000 artisans in the district, only 200 have their own workshop.

"The others do not have similar infrastructure. Even five years ago, local artisans used to sell idols outside the district at high rates but in the past few years, the artisans from others districts of the state are coming here and are making idols at much lower rate," Pal said

"The administration should do something, otherwise we will not make idols this year," Pal added.