As Ganeshotsav nears, the PoP idol battle drags on in Bombay HC
The Bombay High Court is pressuring the Maharashtra government to enforce a ban on Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols during the Ganeshotsav festival. The court has expressed frustration over the lack of implementation of CPCB guidelines regarding eco-friendly idol immersion.
Why it matters
This case highlights the ongoing conflict between religious traditions and environmental regulations in India's urban water management.
The Bombay High Court is hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed in 2024 seeking the effective implementation of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines against the immersion of Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols in natural water bodies. The matter has seen multiple hearings and interim orders over two years, with the case now pending ahead of this year’s Ganeshotsav.
The PIL was filed by Rohit Manohar Joshi along with clay-idol craftsmen. The petitioners have sought a prohibition on immersion of PoP idols in natural water bodies, irrespective of height, as well as action against idol-makers using PoP under the Water Pollution Act.
The CPCB issued revised guidelines on May 12, 2020, prescribing that idols made of natural, biodegradable and eco-friendly material be encouraged, and that idols made of PoP be banned.
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