Mumbai: Environment activist Rohit Joshi has written to government authorities highlighting the blatant non-compliance with the Bombay High Court's order explicitly banning the manufacturing, use, and immersion of Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols.
Ahead of the ongoing Maghi Ganesh festival, the HC had directed municipal bodies to prevent the immersion of PoP Ganesh idols in natural water bodies such as lakes and seashores. However, Joshi alleged that these directives were ignored, resulting in several PoP idols being immersed in restricted locations.
Joshi is petitioner in the PIL seeking strict implementation of the 2020 Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines. In his letter to Chief Secretary of Maharashtra, district collectors and municipal commissioners, Joshi has said, “Despite the court's directive, it has been observed and documented that numerous household and Sarvajanik Ganesh mandals have installed PoP idols in all over Maharashtra and have also proceeded with their immersion in natural water bodies, including lakes, creeks and sea shores. This is a direct violation of the court order and poses a severe environmental hazard.”
Joshi said that if the authorities fail to respond to his letter with details of actions taken complying with HC directions, he along with other petitioners will file a contempt petition against the authorities concerned for failing to comply with HC orders.
Meanwhile, Joshi said that he will send a notice to Raigad district collector asking steps taken to close down PoP idols manufacturing unit in the district. “Pen region has maximum manufacturing plants for PoP idols. If manufacturing stops, the sale and use will stop automatically. However, the authorities are not serious on taking actions on ground level. As a Petitioner I am going to send notice to Raigad collector seeking actions taken to curtail production of PoP idols in Pen,” Joshi said.
