Bombay High Court Directs Ganesh Mandals On Curbing Use Of PoP Idols
Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation Urge Public Cooperation For An Eco-Friendly And Peaceful Ganesh Festival
The Bombay High Court has issued new directives to municipal corporations concerning (sarvajanik) public Ganesh festivals. The order, delivered on Friday, mandates that all public Ganesh mandals must adhere to the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) guidelines from 2020.
Sarvajanik Ganesh mandals that have received permission for their pandals must not install Plaster of Paris (POP) idols. For those still awaiting permission, this condition will be imposed before granting approval.
The court has, however, declined to issue orders concerning household POP idols. Additionally, the court has refrained from imposing a ban on the sale of POP idols by sculptors at this time.
Nevertheless, the court directed the state government to take punitive measures against the creation of POP idols. This decision comes as part of a broader strategy to curb the environmental impact of such idols.
The court’s decision follows a public interest litigation filed suo motu by the Nagpur bench regarding POP idols. The court has instructed the state government and municipal corporations to file affidavits in response. The next hearing on the matter is scheduled for October 21.
The court’s focus remains on ensuring that Ganesh mandals comply with the CPCB’s environmental guidelines to mitigate the adverse effects of POP idols on local ecosystems.
