Project to be implemented for recycling of PoP idols: Clear role of government to immerse six feet tall idols in natural sources

A recycling project will be implemented on PoP idols collected after Ganeshotsav. Therefore, the state government had requested the Bombay High Court to continue the practice of immersing idols above six feet in natural water bodies and idols of less than height in artificial water bodies during Ganeshotsav this year. This pattern and the changed role of the Central Pollution Control Board has been challenged by the PIL petition. Asking the state government and the other respondents to respond within two weeks, the court indicated that it would give a final verdict instead of passing an interim order. After the CPCB took the role of the 12th May 2020 guideline on the PoP idol and was in the form of a guiding note, the court passed an interim order on the dissolution (till March 2026) to July 24, 2025. Advocate General Milind Sathe, appearing for the government, told a bench of Justices Ajay Gadkari and Kamal Khata that it should be continued. As per the court's direction, the government had appointed a committee of scientific experts. The committee had submitted a report on recommendations regarding reprocessing of discarded Ganpati idols. In view of this, the Technical Committee under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary has taken some decisions. Accordingly, a project will be implemented in eight to ten cities like Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar to recycle the POP idols collected and preserved after immersion. After its success, all the local bodies in the State will be directed to finalize the appropriate option. Therefore, the same pattern of last year should be continued in the matter of immersion this year as well," the Advocate General said. However, senior advocate Mihir Desai opposed it on behalf of the petitioners. Will the big clay idols of Shadu last? There is no hindrance in making clay idols of Shadu up to a height of one foot. But will taller idols last for ten days during the festival? If there is a crack in the idol, will the sentiments of the future be hurt? Such questions arise. Also, the preparation of PoP idols by the public Ganeshotsav mandals for this year's festival has already begun. Therefore, it is satisfactory that everyone has followed the method of immersion based on height that the government brought in last year. Therefore, the same pattern should be continued this year," the advocate general said. "Instead of passing an interim order after considering all this, we will take a final hearing and give a proper verdict," the bench said, adding that the next hearing was postponed to two weeks. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that 575 km of road work has been completed under the mega concrete road project in Mumbai. Training in Sculpture to Students Training in making household Ganapati idols up to one foot should be started for students from class V to X under work experience and vocational education and extra-curricular activities. For this, at least one thousand schools should be selected with the help of the education department. According to the report, the technical committee has directed the local self-government body to provide moulds for the same and take the help of local sculptors.