Maharashtra Extends PoP Idol Immersion Guidelines Pending High Court Ruling
MUMBAI — Guidelines governing the immersion of Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols in Maharashtra will continue to remain in force until further orders from the Bombay High Court, the state Environment and Climate Change Department announced in a circular issued on Monday.
The guidelines were originally issued on August 1, 2025, in compliance with the Bombay High Court's interim directions to promote environmentally friendly festival celebrations. The state government has now directed all municipal corporations, municipal councils, and local bodies across Maharashtra to strictly enforce the prescribed norms until the court delivers its final verdict on the matter.
Under the mandated rules, all PoP idols must feature a clearly visible red circular mark, painted with oil paint, on their rear side. In addition, idol makers and sellers are required to maintain detailed records regarding the sale of all PoP idols.
Specific immersion protocols have also been laid out based on idol dimensions. Household and public PoP idols up to six feet in height must be immersed exclusively in artificial ponds. Public idols taller than six feet may be immersed in natural water bodies only when no alternative option is available. In instances where natural water bodies are used, the concerned municipal authority must clean the seabed or water body the following day and scientifically dispose of the recovered idol remains.
The state circular also encourages public mandals to install smaller idols or utilize symbolic smaller idols for immersion rituals, allowing larger idols to be preserved and reused in subsequent years.
Local authorities have been instructed to execute treatment protocols for water and silt extracted from artificial immersion ponds. Treatment using lime or alum must be carried out within seven days. Collected silt must be stored for up to 15 days and subsequently reused in collaboration with research bodies such as the National Chemical Laboratory (NCL).
Furthermore, civic bodies have been directed to conduct extensive public awareness campaigns, set up informative signboards detailing immersion regulations, and establish dedicated arrangements for collecting nirmalya, the floral and religious offerings used during festivities.
