Violation of National Green Tribunal’s orders regarding Idols made of paper pulp !

• Complaint lodged with the Police against the websites like Amazon, Flipkart, IndiaMart for selling Idols made of paper pulp
• Devout Hindu organisations demand action against them

Mumbai – Ganesh-Idols made of paper pulp are highly polluting and harmful to the environment; therefore, the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Western Regional Department, Pune had issued an order on 30th September 2016 for imposing a ban on such Idols. NGT had even brought a stay on the State Government’s decision dated 3rd May 2011 encouraging the use of Idols made of paper pulp. Even then, a few e-commerce websites such as Amazon, Flipkart, Indiamart, Eco-Ganesha, etc are selling Idols made of paper pulp on a large scale. It is a violation of NGT’s orders and it would lead to an increase in pollution; therefore, criminal cases should be filed against those who are violating the Tribunal’s legal orders. Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) and other Devout Hindu organisations have lodged complaints in this connection with the Police at Pune, Sambhajinagar and Jalgaon, informed Mr Sunil Ghanavat, the State Coordinator of HJS for Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.

In 2011, the then State Government had issued orders encouraging the use of Idols made of paper pulp. From the information obtained, in writing, in this context under RTI Act, it was observed that neither the Environment Department nor the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has studied this matter. In this background, HJS filed a petition with NGT about the pollution caused by the use of paper pulp. NGT brought an indefinite stay on the State Government’s orders and issued orders against the promotion of the use of Idols made of paper pulp. As such, selling Idols made of paper pulp violating NGT’s orders is a criminal offence, stated Mr Ghanavat on the occasion.

Mr Shashank Deshmukh of HJS, and Saint (Advocate) Suresh Kulkarni, the founder member of ‘Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad (HVP)’ lodged a complaint at Sambhajinagar Police Commissioner’s office; Mr Deepak Agawane of HJS and Mr Rhushikesh Kamathe of ‘Shri Shivapratishthan Hindustan’ lodged a complaint at Pune Police Commissioner’s Office while Mr Mohan Tiwari, North Maharashtra regional-chief of ‘Hindu Rashtra Sena’, Mr Gajanan Tambat of HJS, Niranjan Chaudhary, a pro-Hindu advocate, and H.B.P. Yogesh Maharaj Koli lodged a complaint with Jalgaon District Collector Abhijit Raut; so also at the office of Superintendent of Police, Jalgaon. Jalgaon District Collector Mr Raut has promised to look into the matter and take necessary action.