PoP idols won't be banned this Ganesh Chaturthi, Maharashtra tells HC
Maharashtra has told the Bombay High Court that it will not be able to ban Plaster of Paris (PoP) Ganesh idols ahead of this year's
Maharashtra has told the Bombay High Court that it will not be able to ban Plaster of Paris (PoP) Ganesh idols ahead of this year's Ganesh Chaturthi, even as the court questioned the state's position in light of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent appeal to devotees to choose clay idols. The state government, however, assured the court that PoP idols would be phased out gradually. Ganesh Chaturthi is scheduled to begin on September 14. Read Full Story The Bombay High Court was hearing petitions concerning pollution caused by the immersion of PoP idols in natural water bodies. Advocate General Milind Sathe, appearing for the Maharashtra government, told a bench of Justices Ajay Gadkari and Kamal Khata that the government would earnestly follow the Prime Minister's appeal, but implementing a ban for this year's festival would be difficult.
Sathe also urged the court to continue its 2025 order allowing PoP idols taller than six feet to be immersed in the sea. COURT QUESTIONS STATE'S STAND The bench questioned the government's position, pointing out that it appeared to be contrary to Modi's recent appeal. “Has the government informed the Prime Minister of this stand,” the court asked, while questioning whether the issue was being taken seriously. The court said it would hear all parties concerned before passing its order. Last week, the high court had asked the state government to clarify its position on Modi's appeal, made during his Mann Ki Baat programme, urging people to use clay Ganesh idols instead of PoP ones.
POWDER-BASED IDOLS AND IMMERSION RULES The petitions before the court seek strict implementation of the Central Pollution Control Board's 2020 guidelines, which say PoP idols should not be immersed in natural water bodies. Last year, after the CPCB said its guidelines were advisory in nature, the high court allowed PoP idols above six feet to be immersed in natural water bodies in accordance with the Maharashtra government's 2025 immersion policy. The state government has sought a similar arrangement for this year's Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. The government has also assured the court that PoP idols will eventually be phased out through a planned process, rather than through an immediate ban.
IDOL MAKERS OPPOSE BAN Several petitions have also been filed by PoP idol manufacturers, who have argued that a ban would affect their fundamental right to carry on business. The Bombay High Court will now hear the submissions of the state government, petitioners and other parties before deciding whether to allow the Maharashtra government's request on PoP idol immersion for this year's Ganesh Chaturthi. Ends With PTI inputs
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