Maharashtra issues guidelines ahead of Ganesh Festival: All POP idols to carry red dot for identification
The directive follows a recent Bombay High Court decision lifting the ban on POP idols, with the court instructing the state government to formulate strict guidelines for their immersion.
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For household idols or those below six feet in height, immersion will only be allowed in artificial ponds. (File Photo)The state government on Friday issued guidelines for the immersion of Plaster of Paris (POP) Ganesh idols, mandating that all such idols must carry a visible circular red mark painted with oil paint on the backside for easy identification.
The directive follows a recent Bombay High Court decision lifting the ban on POP idols, with the court instructing the state government to formulate strict guidelines for their immersion. Ganeshotsav begins on August 26, and POP idols, when immersed in natural water bodies, pose a significant pollution risk. To address this, the government has directed local self-government bodies to issue necessary instructions and ensure strict compliance.
As per the new rules, idol makers and sellers must maintain a register of POP idol sales, which will now be a mandatory condition for obtaining licences. Local bodies have also been asked to set up a dedicated cell for registering Utsav Samitis and Sarvajanik Mandals within their jurisdictions. During registration, detailed information must be collected about each installed idol, including whether it is made of POP, to help plan appropriate immersion arrangements.
The guidelines further recommend that local bodies encourage organising committees to install smaller idols. Where large idols are used, the organisers should be encouraged to install a smaller replica specifically for immersion purposes, allowing the larger idol to be reused or reinstalled in subsequent years.
For household idols or those below six feet in height, immersion will only be allowed in artificial ponds. In cases where idols exceed six feet and no artificial pond is available, immersion in natural water bodies may be permitted. However, since POP does not dissolve easily, local civic bodies must ensure that the immersed material is collected the following day either by themselves or by appointing specialised agencies to clean the seabed or water bodies.
Additionally, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has been tasked with launching a state-wide awareness campaign to promote eco-friendly celebrations.
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