Despite the Bombay HC lifting the ban on ‘POP’ idols, the state proceeds with wasteful expenditure of crores on artificial ponds

– By Mr Pritam Nachankar, Special Correspondent, Sanatan Prabhat

Mumbai – Not a single research report exists proving that Plaster of Paris (POP) causes pollution. Despite this, for many years, the Congress propagated the narrative that POP idols caused pollution during Ganeshotsav. On 9th June 2025, the Bombay High Court’s decision to lift the ban on POP idols exposed the Congress’s fake narrative that ‘Hindu festivals cause pollution’. Even after it has been established that idols do not cause pollution, the Maharashtra Government is proceeding to spend crores of rupees unnecessarily to construct artificial ponds for the immersion of POP Ganesh idols.

Timeline of the lifting of the POP idol ban

In March 2025, the Maharashtra Government appointed an expert committee chaired by nuclear scientist Dr Anil Kakodkar to study whether POP idols caused pollution. In June 2025, the committee submitted a report clearly stating that POP does not cause pollution. Based on this report, the Bombay High Court took the significant decision to lift the ban on POP idols.

What is the reason for immersing small POP idols in artificial ponds?

In an affidavit submitted to the Bombay High Court, the Maharashtra Government presented a policy requiring idols up to 5 feet tall to be immersed in artificial ponds. In July 2025, the Court issued directions allowing idols up to 6 feet tall to be immersed in artificial ponds. The core question, however, is this: if the Honourable High Court has clarified that POP does not cause pollution, why are artificial ponds needed for immersing POP idols at all? This is the question raised by devout Hindus.

Not a question of pollution, but of POP disposal

The actual issue is not pollution caused by POP idols, but rather the time it takes for POP to dissolve in water. To address this challenge, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board formed a new expert committee on August 1, 2025, chaired by the Member Secretary, to research ways to dispose of POP more quickly. This committee will study the matter and submit a report to the Government.

Editorial Perspective

This is a blatant disregard for even the verdicts of the Bombay High Court. It reflects how the Indian system itself is antagonistic towards Hindu Dharma. It is the need of the hour for devout Hindus to oppose this resolutely!