PoP idols up to 6 ft must be immersed only in artificial tanks: Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court on Thursday issued a direction mandating that Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols up to 6 feet in height should be immersed only in artificial tanks for the upcoming Ganeshotsav and Navratri festivals [Rohit Manohar Joshi v State of Maharashtra].

The Court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition seeking strict implementation of the Central Pollution Control Board guidelines, which ban the immersion of PoP idols in natural water bodies.

The Maharashtra government issued a policy on July 21 mandating the immersion of idols up to 5 feet in artificial tanks.

However, considering the fact that over 7,000 idols over 5 feet are still being immersed in natural water bodies, a Division Bench of Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne on Wednesday asked the State to consider increasing the height limit to 8 feet.

However, till March 2026, idols up to 6 feet are necessarily to be immersed in artificial water bodies. This means the larger idols will be immersed in natural water bodies.

Advocate General Birendra Saraf informed the Court that the height limit cannot be increased this year due to logistical reasons.

Senior Advocate Milind Sathe, appearing for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) also voiced similar concerns. According to Sathe, based on last year's data, around 1,95,000 idols under 5 feet were immersed in Mumbai alone. Of these, approximately 85,000 were immersed in artificial water bodies. The Corporation had arranged 204 artificial tanks for the purpose.

He submitted that, based on the new policy, the Corporation would have to make arrangements for 1,10,000 additional idols this year. If the height limit is increased to seven feet, the Corporation would have to make arrangements for 3,000 more idols in the 5–7 feet range.

This poses a logistical challenge as idols over five feet occupy more space and take longer to dissolve, the Court. Considering that Ganeshotsav is on August 27, he urged the court to retain the current height restriction.

Meanwhile Advocate General Saraf also submitted that the figure would be much higher when the entire state of Maharashtra is taken into account.

To ensure that the impact of idol immersion on the environment is minimal, the Court directed that idols up to 6 feet must be immersed only in artificial water bodies. The State shall amend its policy accordingly, the Court ordered.

The Court further directed that the State must give wide publicity to the policy and ensure its implementation in 'letter and spirit' through the local bodies. Local bodies shall also urge Utsav Samitis to install smaller-sized idols for immersion and to reuse larger idols, it emphasized.

The State government was, meanwhile, directed to appoint an expert committee to examine scientific methods for reusing PoP used in idol-making and explore eco-friendly methods for dissolving PoP.

The directions will not only apply to the Ganesh Utsav but also the Navratri festival and to any other festivals involving idol immersion until March 2026, the Court said.