Mumbai News: PoP Ganesh Idols Gets Nod From Rajiv Gandhi Science And Technology Commission; HC Postpones Hearings Until CPCB Clarification | Representative Image
Mumbai: The Rajiv Gandhi Science and Technology Commission has authorised the utilisation of Plaster of Paris (PoP) Ganesh idols, and the report has been submitted to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The High Court has postponed hearings until June 9, seeking clarification from the CPCB about its position. The CPCB had earlier implemented a prohibition on PoP because of environmental issues, which has greatly affected the livelihoods of those sculpting with PoP.
The Hamrapur Division Ganesh Murtikar Utkarsh Mandal and other petitioners contested these updated guidelines in court. Advocate General Birendra Saraf updated the bench regarding a committee led by Dr. Anil Kakodkar that developed recommendations currently being evaluated by the CPCB. With the Ganeshotsav festival nearing in four months, the petitioners called for a swift resolution.
Earlier, State IT and cultural affairs minister Ashish Shelar announced on March 11 that an expert committee from the Rajiv Gandhi Science and Technology Commission will study plaster of Paris (PoP) usage in manufacturing Ganesh idols. Speaking at an event for idol makers in Parel, he emphasized the state government’s support for PoP idol makers, promising to provide expert lawyers at the upcoming High Court hearing on March 20 regarding a PIL that has banned the manufacture, sale, and immersion of PoP idols. Shelar also criticized the BMC for its stance against idol makers, calling for a comprehensive study.
The CPCB confirmed receipt of the report on May 3, promising to examine it prior to engaging with the court. The High Court ordered the state government to present the committee’s report at the upcoming hearing and instructed the CPCB to provide a response by June 1. Major concerns pointed out in the report encompass increasing water pollution linked to the growing number of idols and the urgent need for encouraging environmentally friendly idols and paints.
The report proposes permitting the immersion of environmentally friendly painted PoP idols in large water bodies, as long as these locations are distant from areas where humans and animals use water. It highlights the necessity for widespread public education and motivations concerning the ecological effects of PoP idols.
Bombay High Court VS PoP Ganesha Idols
The Bombay High Court has been focused on regulating Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols for the Ganesha festival to promote eco-friendly practices and mitigate environmental pollution. In 2020, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) established a ban on the manufacture, sale, and immersion of PoP idols, prompting petitions from idol makers. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) upheld this ban in 2021, supported by the Supreme Court.
In 2022, the Bombay High Court dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the CPCB’s guidelines. By 2025, the court reiterated the ban’s enforcement, particularly for the Maghi Ganesh festival, directing civic bodies to prevent PoP idol usage. The court also sought compliance and feedback from multiple stakeholders while addressing artisans’ livelihoods, stressing the necessity for sustainable alternatives.
