State to back Modi’s clay Ganesh idol appeal, oppose immediate PoP ban

The Maharashtra government will tell the Bombay High Court it will promote clay Ganesh idols, supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal, but will oppose an immediate ban on Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols for this year's festival.

The state's stand was finalized at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ahead of a PIL hearing seeking a ban on PoP idols, citing CPCB's May 2020 guidelines that discourage PoP idols as they pollute water bodies.

The government will argue that the CPCB guidelines are advisory, not mandatory, and that an immediate ban would disrupt preparations for the Ganesh festival scheduled from September 14-25, as artisans have already manufactured PoP idols.

The state will also apprise the court of its progress in promoting eco-friendly Ganesh festivals over the past four years and measures taken to protect the environment.