Mumbai: The environment activists slam the state government for interpreting the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) guidelines on banning Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols as per their convenience, especially eyeing the upcoming local bodies elections in Maharashtra.
Activists Accuse State of Vote Bank Politics Over PoP Ban
"It is appeasement of the Hindu voters. Ganeshotsav was recently declared as the 'State Festival'. They do not want to disappoint their vote bank. May be next year they will take their stand will change," activits' say.
Bombay HC Allows PoP Idols Above 6 Ft in Natural Water Bodies
The Bombay High Court on Thursday gave an interim order on the PIL filed by enviornment activist Rohit Joshi on banning the PoP idols. The court has allowed manufacturing and sale of PoP idols and immersion in natural water bodies of idols above six feet height.
However, PoP idols below six feet have to be mandatorily immersed into artificial ponds installed by the civic bodies. The HC recently reversed it's order on complete ban on usage of PoP idols after the CPCB said that it's guidelines are not mandatory but advisory in nature, which irked the environmentalists.
Activist Questions Why CPCB Guidelines Are Binding in Goa, Karnataka but Advisory in Maharashtra
Petitioner Rohit Joshi said, "It is surprising, the CPCB guidelines on total ban on PoP idols is accepted by the states of Goa and Karnataka, who are also taking strict actions towards its implementation. And in Maharashtra, ahead of civic elections, the guidelines become 'advisory'. What is the use of having a central body if it's guidelines are not mandated. In future, any central body's guidelines will be interpreted by authorities as per their convenience."
Vanashakti Director Slams CPCB as ‘Spineless’
Director of NGO Vanashakti, Stalin D slammed the CPCB calling it spineless for choosing to sing the politicians tunes instead of promoting scientific temperament.
"Politicians are out to eradicate science to appease their vote bank. Hindu religion sees nature as something to be worshipped and preserved. The politicians are encouraging people to degrade the environment. If CPCB is meant to only issue advisories, it should be immediately disbanded. Chat GPT and Grok will do their job," Stalin said.
Questions are also raised on surveillance and accountability for environment-friendly disposable of artificial ponds water where PoP idols will be immersed, and retrieval, transportation and disposal of remains of PoP idols from natural water bodies. The state government's environment department in its affidavit to the HC said that it has that all PoP idols should be red marked.
No Clarity on Scientific Disposal of PoP from Natural Water Bodies
"The local bodies are directed for collection of these immersed materials from these water bodies on the very next date of immersion. The government is also in process of appointing an Expert Scientific Committee for suggesting method for reuse and recycle of PoP which is used for idols," the affidavit said.
However, Joshi highlight that there is mere or no surveillance if the PoP idols immersion water from artificial lakes is scientifically processed or released in natural water bodies unprocessed. He also added that it is practically impossible in the rush of visarjan at public places to measure idols are above 6 feet.
The PoP materials float back to the seashore, however in the rivers once immersed it flows. The state has not clarified on how will they collect immersed PoP materials from flowing water and it's scientific disposal, Joshi added. "It is more of the chemical based colours which harms the water bodies and aquatic life more than the PoP materials."
BMC's enviornment department gets No response for consultant for eco-friendly immersion
Following, the HC order on environment-friendly immersion on Ganpati idols, the BMC's enviornment department had floated tenders to appoint consultant. However, the tender has yielded no response.
The BMC's solid waste management (SWM) department will now collect the PoP materials the next day of immersion, transport and dispose as the department has been doing traditionally.
"The SWM department is expected to appoint consultant now for guiding enviornment-friendly idol immersion, retrieval of material and it's scientific disposal, including the water from artificial ponds," a senior civic official said.
