The Bombay High Court on Thursday ruled that all Ganesh idols made of Plaster of Paris (PoP) and under 6 feet in height must be mandatorily immersed in artificial water bodies across Maharashtra until March 2026. The decision, aimed at reducing environmental damage, applies not only to Ganesh Utsav but also to Navratri, Maghi Ganesh, and all festivals involving idol immersions.
The directive follows a series of hearings on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that challenged the immersion of PoP idols in natural water sources and contested the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) guidelines. A bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep V Marne emphasized that the interim arrangement was necessary to minimize ecological harm.
This comes after the Maharashtra government submitted its policy guidelines dated July 21, 2025, which state that idols below five feet must be immersed in artificial ponds, while taller idols may be allowed in natural water bodies if no alternatives are available. However, the court took it further by extending the artificial immersion mandate to idols up to six feet.
The court acknowledged logistical challenges but stressed the need for action to protect the environment. It also ordered the formation of an expert committee to study eco-friendly methods for faster dissolution and reuse of PoP idols. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) reported that arrangements would now need to be scaled up for an estimated 1.95 lakh smaller idols this year alone.
While environmental advocates pushed for a complete ban on natural water immersion for all PoP idols, the court noted practical limitations in infrastructure. The High Court concluded that this is a temporary, realistic measure and directed the state to enforce its guidelines fully, including post-immersion cleanup of natural water bodies.
