Bombay High Court Directs State and Civic Bodies to Enforce CPCB Guidelines Of Ban On Plaster of Paris Idols
Bombay High Court Directs State and Civic Bodies to Enforce CPCB Guidelines Of Ban On Plaster of Paris Idols
On Wednesday, the Bombay High Court issued a directive to state and municipal authorities, including those in Mumbai and Thane, to report on the actions taken to enforce Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines banning the manufacture and immersion of idols made from plaster of Paris (PoP).
The court’s order came during a hearing led by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar. The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by activists Rohit Joshi, Harshad Dhage, and Sarita Khanchandani, alongside nine clay-based Ganpati idol makers from various cities including Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan, and others.
The CPCB guidelines, which came into effect in 2021, prohibit the use of PoP for religious idols destined for immersion in water bodies due to environmental concerns. Despite this, the petitioners allege that enforcement has been lax, with authorities failing to act against the continued use of PoP idols to avoid upsetting those involved in their production.
Advocate Ronita Bhattacharya Bector, representing the petitioners, highlighted that while the CPCB guidelines have been upheld by the Supreme Court, their implementation in Maharashtra remains inadequate. She called for the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) to enforce these guidelines under the Water Pollution (Prevention and Control) Act, emphasizing that similar measures have been adopted in other states.
Bector also pointed out that while the MPCB had issued a notice for the registration of idol makers using natural materials and provided a mobile app for public awareness, these measures have yet to be effectively implemented.
The court was also informed of a related PIL by the NGO Vanashakti concerning the immersion of PoP idols in water bodies within Aarey forests. In response, the judges combined the two PILs and scheduled a follow-up hearing on August 28, ahead of the Ganesh festival.
The court’s decision underscores the urgent need for compliance with environmental regulations to ensure eco-friendly celebrations and the protection of water bodies.
