Maharashtra Govt Can't Implement Eco-Friendly Ganesh Idol Appeal

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 government stated that the celebrations are just 40 days away and most idols have already been made. Advocate General Milind Sathe told the court that immediate implementation was not feasible.

The Prime Minister had made the appeal during his July 26 Mann Ki Baat programme, and the court had sought the State's response on July 27. The government 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, which allows plaster of Paris (PoP) idols above six feet to be immersed in natural water bodies, if permitted by the court. The government 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 court 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 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.

The government presented statistics, which showed that last year only 31,000 of nearly 28 lakh Ganesh idols were made of PoP. The government assured the court that it would stop PoP idol immersion in phases and eventually end their manufacture.

The court's decision on the matter is still pending. The issue of PoP idol immersion has been a topic of debate for years, with environmentalists arguing that it causes water pollution.

The Maharashtra government's decision to phase out PoP idols is seen as a step in the right direction, but the implementation of the Prime Minister's appeal will have to wait until next year.

The welfare of the people and the environment are the main concerns in this matter, and the court's decision will be crucial in determining the fate of PoP idol immersion in the state.

In the end, the Maharashtra government's inability to implement the Prime Minister's appeal this year highlights the challenges in implementing environmental policies, especially when it comes to deeply rooted traditions and practices. The government's decision to phase out PoP idols is a positive step, but more needs to be done to address the issue of water pollution caused by idol immersion.