All PoP Idols Up To 6 Feet Will Be 'Compulsorily Immersed' In Artificial Water Tanks: Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court on Thursday (July 24) made it clear that for the forthcoming Ganeshotsav and Durga Puja festivals, idols made of Plaster of Paris (PoP) which are till the height of 6 feet, will have to be mandatorily immersed in artificial ponds/water tanks. A division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne noted that last year, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had created around 204 water tanks for 1.95 lakh Ganesh idols which were below 5 feet. However, only 85,000 such idols were immersed in these 204 tanks whereas the remaining were immersed only in natural water bodies. Advocate General Dr Birendra Saraf today told the judges that this year, it will be strictly ensuring that all idols upto 5 feet are immersed in such artificial water tanks. However, the bench while stating that it was not happy with the State's policy framed on July 21, 2025, permitting idols above 5 feet in natural water bodies, deemed it appropriate to order all the authorities to ensure that idols till the height of 6 feet are strictly immersed in artificial tanks. "This Court has to make an endeavour that the impact of immersion of idols on environment is made bare minimal... Thus, instead of 5 feet, idols up to 6 feet be compulsorily immersed in artificial tanks," the CJ made it clear. Therefore, the bench issued these directions, for the State and Civic bodies across Maharashtra, to comply with, strictly: The State to ensure implementation of its policy wrt immersion of idols, in letter and spirit.State to issue directions to all local bodies to ensure strict implementation and enforcement of guidelinesAll local bodies across the State shall ensure strict adherence to the guidelines and shall encourage sarvajanik Mandals to install small size idols... They shall also take steps to ensure that the larger sized idols may be reused or reinstalled in the following year and smaller ones can be immersed...Local bodies to ensure that idols below 6 ft are immersed in artificial tanksState to constitute committee for suggesting reuse and recycle of PoP idols. The expert committee shall also examine the scientific methods of faster dissolution of the PoP idols in an eco-friendly manner. On a objection to the State's policy, by the petitioner's Counsel, the Chief Justice remarked, "We are also not satisfied (with the policy) but we cannot create artificial tanks... We can see that this year 1.10 lakh more idols will not go in natural water bodies... This is a right direct? Need to look also at the positive side... It is very easy to pass orders sitting in this court hall but we need to consider the problems of the administration too... We ourselves are not happy by all this... But we are a part of the society and we need to pass enforceable orders." These are the ad-interim orders for the upcoming Ganeshotsav festival which commences from August 27, the judges said, further adding that these directives shall also apply on immersion of Durga idols, Kali Maa idols and any other festivals wherein idols are immersed in water, for this year. The bench has adjourned the hearing in the matter for eight weeks, to further consider the case.

All PoP Idols Up To 6 Feet Will Be 'Compulsorily Immersed' In Artificial Water Tanks: Bombay High Court

Narsi Benwal

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