Mumbai: In another development on the raging issue of implementation on the ban on Plaster of Paris (PoP) Ganesh idols, the petitioner of the PIL, Rohit Joshi has sent legal notice to more than 10 district collectors and municipal commissioners highlighting the violation of the Bombay High Court directives.
The HC ahead of the Maghi Ganesh festival in January, banned the manufacturing, sale, use and immersion in natural water bodies of PoP made Ganesh idols. The HC order followed the 'Guidelines for Idol Immersion published in May 2020 by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
However, artisans in several districts of Maharashtra have started manufacturing the PoP idols for the upcoming Ganpati festival and the notice sent by Joshi warns of legal action of HC orders are not followed.
The legal notice sent by Joshi, mentions that paragraph 12 of the Bombay HC order directs the Municipal Corporations and the Collectors of the Districts to ensure that revised guidelines for idol immersion issued by the CPCB which bans making of PoP idols as well as its immersion completely, shall be adhered to strictly.
"Notwithstanding the said order, it is evident that the manufacture and sale of PoP Ganpati idols for Ganpati Visarjan festivities are evidently taking place at a large scale in the Districts of Ratnagiri, Thane, Nashik, Kolhapur, Amravati, Washim, Akola, Satara, Ulhasnagar and Wardha," the notice said.
Joshi in his notice has also mentioned 310 PoP idols makers in the several districts of the state. Maximum of the makers are in Thane, Raigad and Ratnagiri districts.
Speaking with FPJ, Rohit Joshi said, "The collectors have to ensure the PoP Ganesh idols are not manufactured for the upcoming Ganpati festival. Failure of the offices to prohibit manufacturing and sale of religious idols, an appropriate legal action will be initiated."
Joshi will be sending second batch of notice for Raigad and Mumbai city and suburban collectors.
Speaking with the FPJ, Raigad collector Kisan Jawale said, "It will be ensured that HC orders are followed." Notably, Raigad's Pen village has maximum and biggest PoP idol manufacturers in the state.
