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India Today
19 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
Immersion of over 6-foot Ganpati idols in sea, river and ponds get court nod
The Bombay High Court, on Thursday, allowed the immersion of Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols of six feet and above in natural water bodies like sea, rivers and ponds. The court's order will prevail till March 2026. The order comes as a relief for several festivals during this period including the Ganesh Chaturthi and the Navaratri. However, the bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne directed the state to ensure that no PoP idol below the height of 6 feet be immersed in the natural water bodies and adequate artificial tanks be made across the state for the Advocate General Birendra Saraf submitted that there are over 16 lakh ganpati idols which will now no longer be immersed in natural water bodies and will have a positive environmental impact. However, when a lawyer representing the petitioners against PoP idol immersion submitted that not a single PoP ganpati idol should be permitted to be immersed in natural water body, the bench said "We are also not satisfied. But we cannot create artificial ponds. Can you do it? Sitting here in a room, it is easy for you to argue and for us to pass an order. This has to be implemented by the local bodies. We have to issue a direction which is doable. We cannot be uncut from reality. We are also not happy with this, but we have to see the administrative constraints, and you will have to agree that this is a step in the right direction."The bench had yesterday directed the state to say if provision can be made for the immersion of idols about 7 to 8 feet high. However, Saraf submitted that it would create logistical issues, especially given the fact that there is only a month left for the Ganpati festivities to start. "In principle, we have no difficulty in increasing the height, but logistically it will not be feasible. I am not saying that it cannot be done. It can be done, but there will be difficulties," said Saraf."The impact on the environment should be the barest minimum. The next day we all saw the weird site with broken idols lying everywhere," said Chief assured that all local bodies have been directed to remove the remains of idols from sea bed and water permission is only until March 2026, after the state assured the court that it will set up an expert committee that will find a solution to the issue of the reuse and recycling of PoP.- EndsMust Watch
Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
Ganpati idols up to 6 feet must be immersed in artificial tanks, says Bombay HC
MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed that Ganpati idols made of plaster of Paris (PoP), which are up to 6 feet, shall be mandatorily immersed in artificial water bodies. This paves the way for the implementation of the state govt's policy that permits the immersion of larger idols in natural water bodies like rivers and seas. 'The local bodies shall ensure that plaster of Paris idols, which are less than 6 feet in height, are mandatorily immersed in artificial water ponds only,' directed Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne. They said interim directions shall also apply to Navratri and other festivals until March 2026. The court heard a PIL, including by nine clay-based idol makers, seeking implementation of the May 2020 revised guidelines of the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) May 2020 revised guidelines that banned the manufacture and sale of PoP idols. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai The court also heard a petition by PoP idol-makers who challenged the ban. On May 21 , the CPCB's expert committee clarified that the guidelines are 'advisory in nature,' but added that immersion shall not be allowed in natural bodies. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Redefine Your Future with a Top Online MBA JAIN Online Learn More Undo The High Court on June 9 directed the state to take a policy decision on immersion. On Wednesday, the State's policy was submitted with guidelines including that idols below 5 feet have to be mandatorily immersed in artificial water tanks. Idols above 5 feet can be immersed in natural water bodies, but the local bodies would have to remove immersed idols the very next day and clean the seabed. The judges then asked the state govt and BMC to inform whether idols up to 8 feet can be immersed in artificial tanks and if it is possible to provide bigger tanks. Senior advocate Milind Sathe, for BMC, and advocate general Birendra Saraf said there will be logistical problems. Sathe informed that last year, 85,000 idols below 5 feet were immersed in artificial tanks. This year, the figure is 1.95 lakh such idols. He said provision has to be made for an additional 1.10 lakh idols. The High Court was informed that there are 3,865 idols between 5-10 feet and 3,998 above 10 feet. Saraf urged that in view of the festival beginning on August 27, the High Court permits the immersion of idols above 5 feet in natural water bodies. The judges said while the policy can be said to be a step in the right direction, the court has to make an endeavour that the impact of the immersion of idols on the environment is reduced to a bare minimum. 'We cannot lose sight of the fact that there are still 7,863 idols above 5 feet which shall be immersed in natural water bodies,' they added. Taking into account the policy, that an additional 1.10 lakh idols will have to be immersed in artificial bodies and since the festival begins on August 27, the judges deemed it 'appropriate to make the following arrangements this year.' 'We, therefore, direct that instead of idols 5 feet in height, idols which are up to 6 feet shall necessarily be immersed in artificial bodies,' they said. They directed the state govt to endeavour to implement its immersion policy 'in letter and spirit' and issue directions to local bodies. All local bodies in Maharashtra shall ensure strict adherence to the policy. They shall encourage utsav samitis/sarvajanik mandals to install smaller idols and also smaller replicas specifically for immersion purposes, while the larger idol may be reused or reinstalled the following year. The govt shall appoint an expert scientific committee to suggest methods for reuse and recycle of PoP. The committee shall also examine scientific methods for faster dissolution of PoP in an eco-friendly manner.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
State makes it mandatory to immerse Ganpati idols under 5 feet in artificial tanks
MUMBAI: In a move aimed at reducing water pollution during Ganeshotsav, the Maharashtra government on Wednesday informed the Bombay High Court that it will now be mandatory to immerse all Ganesh idols measuring up to 5 feet in height in artificial ponds provided by local municipal bodies across the state. Dr Saraf responded that while tanks up to 5 feet deep are currently feasible, creating much larger ones is not practical at this stage. He added that the state was in the process of forming an expert committee to study alternatives, including solutions for soluble idols The announcement was made by advocate general Dr Birendra Saraf while responding to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by activist Rohit Manohar, who raised concerns about the environmental impact of immersing Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols in natural water bodies. 'Until now, using artificial tanks for immersion was optional. But in keeping with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines, immersion of idols up to 5 feet in height must now be done only in artificial ponds provided by local authorities,' Dr Saraf told a division bench of chief justice Alok Aradhe and justice Sandeep Marne. He clarified that there is no such mandatory rule for idols taller than 5 feet, but added that civic bodies will collect such idols a day after immersion and clean the natural water bodies where they are placed. Saraf also pointed out emerging eco-friendly trends. 'Many people now immerse idols at home, including edible Ganpatis made of chocolate that dissolve in milk, which is then distributed as prasad,' he said. He added that in Pune, some Ganpati mandals follow the CPCB's suggestion of not immersing large idols at all, and instead use smaller replicas made of shadu mati (natural clay) for immersion. The PIL had earlier prompted the High Court to allow the manufacture of PoP idols, but with a strict caveat: they could not be immersed in lakes, rivers or other natural water bodies without explicit permission. When asked by the court about the number of idols typically immersed in Mumbai, Saraf cited government data showing nearly 195,000 idols under 5 feet and just over 7,000 idols above that height are immersed during the festival. This includes 3,865 idols between 5 to 10 feet and 3,998 idols above 10 feet. Concerned about the pollution caused by these taller idols, the court asked whether it was technically feasible to build artificial ponds deep enough to accommodate them. 'Can you make 25-foot-deep tanks for 10-foot idols?' the bench asked. Dr Saraf responded that while tanks up to 5 feet deep are currently feasible, creating much larger ones is not practical at this stage. He added that the state was in the process of forming an expert committee to study alternatives, including solutions for soluble idols. 'You'll have to come up with an environmentally safe solution for idols made of dissolvable materials,' the court said, directing the state to present its plan in future hearings.
Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
HC: See if bigger artificial tanks can be created for 8ft PoP idols
Mumbai: Bombay high court on Wednesday asked the state govt and BMC if it is possible to create bigger artificial water tanks for immersion of plaster of paris (PoP) Ganpati idols up to 8ft tall. As of now, artificial tanks can accommodate idols 5ft and under. "See to what extent it is feasible you can increase the height up to, say, 8ft. Because we want the impact to be bare minimal on the environment," said a bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne while directing both to inform it of the decision on Thursday. On a PIL to enforce Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) May 2020 revised guidelines that ban the manufacture and sale of PoP idols, HC had on Jan 30 directed strict adherence to the ban. On May 21, CPCB's committee clarified that the guidelines are "advisory in nature", but added that immersion would not be allowed in natural bodies, such as lakes and seas. Hence on June 9, HC lifted the ban on manufacture of PoP idols and directed the state to take a policy decision on immersion. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Advocate general Birendra Saraf submitted the state policy guidelines. He said idols for household celebrations or those up to 5ft have to be mandatorily immersed only in artificial tanks. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 most beautiful women in the world Undo There are nearly 2 lakh such idols. Saraf said idols taller than 5ft can be immersed in natural water bodies, but the local body has to remove all immersed idols and get the seabed cleaned the very next morning. To the judges' query, he said in Mumbai, there are over 7,000 idols taller than 5ft. The judges said 7,000 idols "going into water bodies is an environmental hazard". Saraf said, "These are of Mumbai, and all over [Maharashtra], larger Ganpatis are much fewer." "Still, 7,000 is a huge number," the CJ said. Saraf said there are 3,865 idols 5-10ft tall and 3,998 above 10ft. Asked if idols up to 10ft can be immersed in an artificial tank, he said, "The whole tank will get occupied by that one idol", and PoP idols take a long time to dissolve. The judges asked if it is feasible to make larger tanks so that more idols can be immersed. "Can separate tanks be prepared for sarvajanik mandals above 5ft height?" asked Justice Marne. The judges also asked if the idol's height in an artificial tank can be increased to 8ft. "Is it doable? Come and tell us," the CJ said.
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Mandals & moortikars' hopes raised as govt favours sea immersion of large idols
Mumbai: The hopes of Ganeshotsav mandals and PoP moortikars were raised of having a resolution for the PoP conundrum in sight as govt submitted its immersion policy in an affidavit in HC on Wednesday stating that large idols of sarvajanik Ganeshotsav mandals can be immersed in the traditional manner in the sea with all necessary environmental precautions in place. Govt said the sanctity of the 125-year-old festival, including idol immersion, will be preserved. The 10-day festival begins on Aug 27. The Lalbaug-Parel belt and Khetwadi install large idols over 20ft; Mumbaicha Maharaja of Khetwadi 11th Lane rises up to 38ft, the tallest in Maharashtra. It is impossible to immerse whole in any artificial tank. Mandal president Hemant Dixit said, "I have seen authorities discussing a PoP ban since 2007. But I was confident our govt would not allow Maharashtra's most important festival to be jeopardised. How will you carve thousands of sarvajanik idols from clay? And how many artificial tanks will you build for immersion? I am happy that after declaring Ganeshotsav as the state festival, govt is defending our concerns before HC. " Swapnil Parab, secretary of Ganesh Gully mandal in Lalbaug, whose idol stands 22ft tall, said, "Since the ban on PoP, our preparation had slowed down. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dolly Parton, 79, Takes off Her Makeup and Leaves Us Without Words The Noodle Box Undo Now that the hurdles are being removed, we are excited to celebrate." You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Vikas Sawant, mandal treasurer of the 21ft Chinchpokli Cha Chintamani, said, "I am glad all worries of mandals are easing. Artisans were also anxious about immersion. Now we can move forward with preparations." Naresh Dahibawkar, president of Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti, whose suggestions helped govt determine its stance, said, "I am happy that our fears were heeded and a solution is near. Ganpati visarjan is also celebrated in a grand manner with tall idols being led to Girgaum Chowpatty and Dadar. The court's approval will pave the way for this tradition to continue." Moortikars are anxious for visarjan nod to be finalised since business hinges on it. "We are keenly awaiting the decision," said moortikar Viful Jadhav of Ganesh Arts, Goregaon. PoP moortikar Ravindra Vispute echoed his views. "Due to the initial ban, our workshop opened late and orders were few," he said.
