Pune: Bombay High Court Orders Ban on Plaster of Paris Idols for Ganesh Festival

Mumbai/Pune, 31st August 2024: Yesterday, the Bombay High Court ordered the Maharashtra State Government to inform the public of Ganesh Mandals that they are prohibited from installing idols made of Plaster of Paris (PoP) during the upcoming Ganesh festival, in line with Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines. The court criticized both the Maharashtra Government and Municipal Corporations for their failure to enforce these guidelines over the past three years and emphasized the need for strict penalties for non-compliance.

Ganesh Utsav is celebrated in Pune with great enthusiasm, as it is across the country. However, many public mandals and private use Ganesh idols made of PoP which can harm the environment, emphasizing the need for eco-friendly Ganesh idols. Hence, the order by the Bombay High Court is expected to impact the Ganpati celebrations in Pune as well.

This decision came in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by environmental groups and small-scale idol makers who have adopted eco-friendly materials. The petitioners, represented by Ronita Bhattacharya Bector, pointed out that while the CPCB’s 2020 guidelines banned PoP idols, the Maharashtra Government and Municipal authorities have not enforced this rule effectively.

During the hearing, Thane-based idol makers expressed concerns about the impact of the PoP ban, arguing that most of their work was already completed. Their counsel, SM Gorwadkar, highlighted the potential financial losses due to the ban.

The court questioned the effectiveness of the Maharashtra Government’s initiatives, including a poorly downloaded app intended to connect compliant idol makers. Although the court refrained from a total ban on PoP idols due to the potential livelihood impacts, it instructed authorities to deny permissions for PoP idols to public mandals and notify those with existing licenses of the ban. The next hearing is set for 21st October.