MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Friday reserved its verdict on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking enforcement of the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) guidelines prohibiting the manufacture and immersion of Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols on account of their environmental impact.
The court, however, questioned why the state had not acted sooner despite the issue having remained pending for years. The PIL, filed by Joshi, seeks enforcement of the CPCB guidelines that prohibit the manufacture and immersion of PoP idols, citing their adverse environmental impact. The case has also brought into focus the state’s policy permitting the immersion of larger PoP idols in natural water bodies, despite concerns over their impact on rivers, lakes and the sea.
During the hearing on August 4, the Maharashtra government had sought three years from the high court to gradually phase out PoP idols and continue last year’s relaxation on their immersion.
Responding to the court, advocate general Milind Sathe submitted that the state was ready to follow Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to use eco-friendly clay idols, but could not impose a complete ban this year as PoP idols had already been manufactured.
