Maharashtra Govt Can't Implement Eco-Friendly Ganesh Idols This Year

The Maharashtra government has informed the Bombay High Court that it cannot implement Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to use only eco-friendly clay Ganesh idols for this year's festival. The celebrations are just 40 days away and most idols have already been made.

Advocate General Milind Sathe told a Bench of Justices Ajey Gadkari and Kamal Khata that immediate implementation was not feasible. The government had held a meeting with stakeholders on July 31 and decided to implement the Prime Minister's appeal from next year.

For this year's festival, the State will continue last year's policy under which plaster of Paris (PoP) idols above six feet can be immersed in natural water bodies, if permitted by the court. Sathe assured the court that PoP residue would be collected within 24 hours and recycled scientifically.

The government also plans to phase out PoP idols and encourage the use of natural colours by asking local bodies to support idol makers. The Bench is hearing a batch of petitions concerning the implementation of the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) revised 2020 guidelines, which prohibit the immersion of PoP idols in natural water bodies.

The matters include a public interest litigation filed by environmentalist Rohit Joshi seeking strict enforcement of the guidelines, as well as petitions by PoP idol manufacturers challenging their validity. The CPCB's expert committee clarified in May 2025 that the guidelines are advisory in nature but said PoP idols should not be immersed in natural water bodies.

The judges questioned whether the State had informed the Prime Minister's Office that it could not implement the appeal this year. Sathe replied that the State had accepted the appeal and would implement it, but immediate implementation cannot be done for this festival.

The Bench remarked that the State has to consider the welfare of its people. When Sathe said the change could not be made in a day, the Bench quipped that the issue has been pending for years and the State was put to notice years ago.

Presenting the statistics, Sathe said that last year only 31,000 of nearly 28 lakh Ganesh idols were made of PoP. He further assured the court that the government would stop PoP idol immersion in phases and eventually end their manufacture.

The government's decision to phase out PoP idols is a step towards reducing pollution in the state's water bodies. The use of eco-friendly clay Ganesh idols is expected to reduce the environmental impact of the festival.

The Bombay High Court's hearing on the matter is ongoing, and the court is expected to pass an order soon. The Maharashtra government's decision to implement the Prime Minister's appeal from next year is a positive step towards reducing pollution, but the implementation of the CPCB's guidelines remains a challenge.

The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is an important part of Maharashtra's culture, and the government's efforts to reduce its environmental impact are significant. The use of eco-friendly clay Ganesh idols is a step towards making the festival more sustainable.

In conclusion, the Maharashtra government's decision to implement the Prime Minister's appeal from next year is a positive step towards reducing pollution. The government's efforts to phase out PoP idols and encourage the use of natural colours are significant, and the court's hearing on the matter is ongoing.

The significance of this decision lies in its potential to reduce pollution in the state's water bodies. The use of eco-friendly clay Ganesh idols is expected to reduce the environmental impact of the festival, and the government's efforts to implement the CPCB's guidelines are crucial in this regard.

Overall, the Maharashtra government's decision to implement the Prime Minister's appeal from next year is a step towards making the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi more sustainable. The government's efforts to reduce pollution and promote eco-friendly practices are significant, and the court's hearing on the matter is ongoing.