HC accepts govt’s temporary policy on PoP idols immersion

Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of the Bombay high court has accepted Maharashtra government’s temporary policy regarding immersion of Ganesh idols made of plaster of paris (PoP). Accordingly, devotees should immerse the idols in artificial water bodies rather than rivers, lakes and ponds.
In the last hearing on July 13, the HC had directed the government to frame a suitable policy containing requisite regulations, prohibitions, machinery for implementation, mechanism for dealing with its non-compliances and consequences.
Subsequently, the government through its environment and climate change ministry constituted a committee on August 10 and told its five members to frame the policy.
Senior counsel Sunil Manohar, who represented the state along with government pleader Ketki Joshi, submitted the policy in the HC for environmentally safe making and immersion of idols/tazia and its enforcement.
Manohar informed that a technical committee comprising six members has been constituted through a government resolution (GR) of August 2 for framing a comprehensive policy that would be made operational from 2023. This panel would have representatives from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), other experts and would be required to submit the report to the government within three months, before November 2.
“We have perused the temporary policy, which is to operate till a comprehensive one is framed. The role and responsibilities of local and urban authorities have been stipulated therein. According to the government, this policy is to operate for this year,” a division bench comprising justices Atul Chandurkar and Urmila Phalke Joshi said before adjourning the hearing till September 9.
Manohar informed that it would be open for amicus curiae Shreerang Bhandarkar, MPCB counsel Ravi Sanyal and those interested in submitting suggestions to the government for being incorporated in the next year’s policy. He said the suggestions would be invited from persons interested as well as those concerned about environment protection and those would be considered by the technical committee.
“We accept the government’s contention and observe that parties interested are free to submit suggestions in this regard. Insofar as the (temporary) policy for the present year is concerned, suffice to observe that the government would give adequate publicity to create greater awareness among the members of the public. Similarly, it is expected that local bodies, urban authorities, and district authorities would take all necessary steps to ensure that the policy as framed achieves the desired results as intended, this year,” the court said.
The high court’s directives came while hearing a suo motu PIL (No. 3/2021) regarding sale of PoP idols despite ban imposed by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). The HC asked Bhandarkar to prepare a comprehensive PIL that should deal with grave issues broadly pertaining to environmental pollution and damage, and also for framing guidelines to regulate PoP use in making idols.
WHAT THE HC SAID
* Govt’s temporary policy will be in operation till comprehensive one is framed
* Role & responsibilities of local & urban authorities have been stipulated therein
* All interested parties are free to submit suggestions regarding new policy
* Govt to give adequate publicity to temporary policy to create awareness in public
* Authorities to take all necessary steps to ensure the policy achieves desired results