Bombay High Court Mandates Immersion of Ganesh Idols up to 6 Feet in Artificial Tanks
The Bombay High Court mandated that Ganesh idols up to six feet be immersed in artificial tanks until March 2025 to minimise environmental impact.
In a significant step towards environmental protection, the Bombay High Court on Thursday directed that all Ganesh idols up to six feet in height must be immersed in artificial water tanks starting from this year’s Ganesh Chaturthi festival, which begins on August 27.
The directive, issued by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne, will remain in force until March next year and apply to all festivals involving idol immersion, including those using Plaster of Paris (PoP).
“The court has to make an endeavour that the impact of immersion of idols is bare minimum on the environment. Therefore, idols up to 6 feet should compulsorily be immersed in artificial water tanks,” the bench observed.
The court also instructed the Maharashtra government to strictly implement its immersion policy "in letter and spirit," stressing the role of local authorities in ensuring compliance. All local bodies across the state have been directed to facilitate and monitor the use of artificial water bodies for immersing idols up to the specified height.
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Further emphasising environmental concerns, the court urged the government to constitute an expert committee to explore sustainable disposal methods for PoP idols. The panel will be tasked with recommending scientific and eco-friendly solutions for dissolving or recycling the material used in these idols.
The order came during the hearing of multiple petitions that sought enforcement of the revised guidelines issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) regarding the use and disposal of PoP idols.
The move is aimed at reducing pollution in natural water bodies during major festivals, particularly Ganesh Chaturthi, which sees large-scale idol immersions across Maharashtra. Environmentalists and civic bodies have long raised concerns about the adverse ecological impact of chemical-based idols on rivers, lakes and seashores.
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