Immersing Ganesha idols with decorative materials can invite jail term up to six years, says KSPCB
The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has warned that using non-biodegradable materials or Plaster of Paris for Ganesha idols is illegal and punishable by imprisonment. The board mandates the use of eco-friendly materials to protect water bodies from toxic heavy metals.
Why it matters
This directive highlights the intersection of religious tradition and environmental regulation in India, emphasizing public health and ecological preservation.
Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has said that immersing Ganesha idols with decorative materials in any water body constitutes a violation of law and is punishable by a penalty and imprisonment ranging from a minimum of one and a half years up to six years.
Before immersion, flowers, leaves, cloth, decorative items, and other pooja materials must be removed from the idol. To facilitate waste segregation, colour-coded waste bins must be provided at every designated immersion site for the separate collection of waste, it said.
The KSPCB said it has directed local bodies to strictly prohibit the manufacture, storage, sale, distribution, display, and use of Ganesha idols made of Plaster of Paris (PoP) or decorated with chemical/heavy metal-based paints, or coated with single-use plastic or thermocol.
Instead, KSPCB said, idols must be made using natural clay or soil and other biodegradable, eco-friendly materials.
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