The Maharashtra government on Wednesday urged the Bombay High Court to continue allowing the immersion of Plaster of Paris (PoP) Ganesh idols taller than six feet in natural water bodies during this year's Ganesh festival. It also requested the court to retain last year's arrangement under which PoP idols up to six feet in height are immersed only in artificial ponds.
Appearing before a division bench of Justices Ajay Gadkari and Kamal Khata, Advocate General Milind Sathe sought continuation of the interim arrangement ordered by the court in April 2025.
The state informed the court that it has launched a pilot project for recycling PoP idols. Under the initiative, large PoP idols will be collected after immersion and processed so that the material can be reused. The findings of the project will be studied with the help of experts before any long-term policy is framed.
The court, however, questioned why the recycling initiative was limited to PoP idols and not extended to traditional clay (Shadu) idols.
Representing PoP idol manufacturers, advocate Uday Varunjikar argued that the issue is also linked to religious sentiments.
The High Court did not immediately grant the state's request. Instead, it said that rather than passing interim orders every year, it would hear all the pending petitions together and deliver a comprehensive decision. The matter has been posted for hearing after two weeks.
The court is hearing multiple petitions, including a public interest litigation filed by Thane-based environmental activist Rohit Joshi, petitions by clay idol manufacturers, and challenges by PoP idol makers. While one side has sought strict implementation of the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) 2020 guidelines prohibiting the manufacture and immersion of PoP idols in natural water bodies, PoP manufacturers have argued that the guidelines violate their fundamental right to livelihood.
The state also submitted reports prepared by a technical committee and an expert scientific committee constituted under the High Court's directions. Both committees have recommended a phased and scientific approach instead of an immediate ban on PoP idols.
Among their recommendations are pilot recycling projects in Mumbai and other major cities, studies on the environmental impact of both PoP and clay idols, dedicated collection and recycling systems for used PoP idols, reuse of PoP through calcination technology for making idols, plaster boards, cement and other products, and greater public awareness on eco-friendly paints and responsible idol immersion practices.
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