State seeks three weeks to finalize policy on immersion of PoP Ganesha idols

Festivals are coming up from August. We also need time to look into the policy. Hence, let the policy decision be placed before the court HC BENCH,

- Karuna Nidhi

MUMBAI: With Ganeshotsav set to begin on August 27, the Maharashtra government on Monday informed the Bombay High Court that it is yet to arrive at a final decision regarding the immersion of Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols, and sought three weeks' time to frame a formal policy.

The state's advocate general, Dr Birendra Saraf, told a division bench of chief justice Alok Aradhe and justice Sandeep Marne that a series of meetings have been held—chaired by the chief minister himself—since June 9, and the policy will be placed before the court on or before July 23. The development comes amid a batch of petitions raising concerns around the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) revised guidelines, which prohibit the manufacture and immersion of PoP idols in natural water bodies. Idol manufacturers and artisan groups have challenged these guidelines, calling them a violation of their fundamental right to livelihood and their freedom to practise traditional crafts.