The Bombay High Court on Friday instructed civic authorities and the state government to ensure that Sarvajanik Ganesh Pandals are informed about the Central Pollution Control Board's revised guidelines, which prohibit the use of Plaster of Paris (POP) for Ganesh Chaturthi idols.

This directive came during a hearing before a division bench, comprising Chief Justice Devendra Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar, who were addressing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the NGO Vanshakti.

The PIL urged the court to enforce the 2020 guidelines that ban the use of POP for idol-making, citing environmental concerns and the adverse effects of POP on water bodies when these idols are immersed after the festival. Vanshakti argued that despite the guidelines being in place for several years, their implementation had been lax, leading to widespread non-compliance by idol makers and pandals alike.

The court acknowledged the seriousness of the matter, particularly in light of the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival, which sees the installation of numerous idols across the state. The judges stressed the need for immediate action to prevent environmental damage and ensure adherence to the guidelines.

During the proceedings, several manufacturers of POP idols sought to intervene, expressing concerns about the economic impact of the ban on their businesses. They argued for the need for a transition period or alternative solutions that would mitigate the financial burden on artisans who rely on POP for their livelihood.

However, the high court reiterated its stance, pointing out that the Nagpur Bench of the High Court had already imposed a ban on the use of POP through a suo moto PIL. The bench declared that the directives issued by the Nagpur Bench must be mandatorily followed by all concerned parties. The court also directed the state government and civic authorities to conduct awareness campaigns to educate the public and idol makers about the environmental hazards associated with POP and to promote the use of eco-friendly materials.

The court concluded by instructing the state government to submit a compliance report on the steps taken to implement the guidelines and ensure that POP idols are not used in the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. The matter was adjourned for further hearing, with the court emphasizing the importance of strict enforcement to protect the environment.

"..the sarvajanik mandals seeking permission for Ganesh festival shall be clearly intimated that they have to mandatorily follow the guidelines and that they will have to abide at least by one condition of the guidelines that they will not install any Ganesh idol made of Plaster of Paris," the order reads.

The bench further directed that in instances where permissions have already been granted by the relevant authorities, additional conditions must be promptly communicated to the Sarvajanik Ganesh Mandals, specifying that the installation of idols made from Plaster of Paris (POP) is strictly prohibited. The court emphasized that these revised conditions are to be adhered to without exception, ensuring that only eco-friendly materials are used for the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.