Mandatory to immerse Plaster of Paris (PoP) Ganesh idols up to 6 ft in artificial ponds only, says Bombay HC

Bombay High Court on Thursday (July 24, 2025) directed lord Ganesh idols of up to six feet height to be “mandatorily” immersed in artificial tanks during the 10-day Ganesh festival starting from August 27 this year. 

The order will be effective till March next year for the festivals that have the custom of immersing deities’ idols in Maharashtra, said the Court, allowing larger idols immersion in natural water bodies under the State’s new policy.

While hearing a bunch of petitions seeking implementation of the revised guidelines of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) concerning PoP idols, the Bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne said, “The impact of immersion of idols should be a bare minimum on the environment. Hence, the idols up to 6 feet should mandatorily be immersed in artificial water tanks.” 

“We cannot lose sight of the fact that over 7,000 PoP idols above 5 feet will be immersed in natural bodies,” the Court said. 

The Court was also hearing Ganesh idol makers’ petition challenging the CPCB guidelines that ban the immersion of idols in natural water bodies. The judges also instructed the government to consider the idol height up to 8 feet.

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)‘s lawyer Milind Sathe presented data from last year, stating 1,95,000 idols under 5 feet were immersed in Mumbai, with around 85,000 idols immersed in artificial water bodies.  

The court directed the government to implement the policy in “letter and spirit” and asked local bodies to reach out to Ganpati Samiti with the policy in order to ensure that all the rules are followed concerning the immersion of idols. 

The Court also ordered the formation of a committee to recommend measures for the recycling of PoP material used in making idols and study scientific measures for immersion in an eco-friendly manner.