Strictly follow the order to immerse Shri Ganesh idols less than 6 feet tall in artificial lakes

• Bombay High Court’s directions to local bodies

• Permission to immerse 6 feet tall Shri Ganesh idols in natural reservoirs

Mumbai – The Bombay High Court has directed the local bodies to strictly follow the order regarding immersion of Shri Ganesh idols less than 6 feet in artificial lakes. At the same time, the Bombay High Court has allowed immersion of Shri Ganesh idols above 6 feet in the sea and other natural reservoirs. The policy regarding immersion of large Shri Ganesh idols was submitted to the court through an affidavit on 24^th July by the State Government. In this affidavit, permission was sought to immerse idols above 5 feet in natural reservoirs. On this, the court has approved immersion of idols up to 6 feet in natural reservoirs for this year only; but at the same time, it has made it mandatory to immerse idols less than 6 feet in artificial lakes.

State Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar had requested the Rajiv Gandhi Science and Technology Commission to study the immersion of Shri Ganesh idols. This commission had formed a study group under the chairmanship of Dr. Anil Kakodkar had studied the idols of POP (Plaster of Paris) and its impact on the environment and made some recommendations and suggestions to the Government. After the Central Environment Department presented this report in the court, the court lifted the ban on POP idols a few days ago. Therefore, the court had asked the State Government to submit an affidavit on ‘Where will the big Ganesh idols be immersed ?’