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Bombay HC Issues Notice To State On Plea For Enforcing CPCB’s Ban On Plaster Of Paris Idols

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Bombay HC Issues Notice To State On Plea For Enforcing CPCB's Ban On Plaster Of Paris Idols

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the State government on a plea seeking implementation of the revised guidelines by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) which mandates a complete ban on the use of Plaster of Paris (PoP) for religious idols to be immersed in water.

The CPCB had issued “Revised Guidelines for Idol Immersion” on May 12, 2020 mandating the complete ban on use of PoP “due to the extreme and irreparable water pollution caused by the immersion of these idols in natural water bodies”.

A bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar issued the notice while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition, filed by three citizens and nine clay-based and small scale craftsman of idols, contending that the actions undertaken by the Respondent Authorities to enforce the Guidelines are “farcical measures designed only to pay lip-service to the provisions of the Guidelines”.

Petitioners’ advocate Ronita Bhattacharya submitted that despite the CPCB ban in 2020, which was to come into effect in 2021, the state is dilly dallying in its implementation to appease manufacturers of PoP idols. Even the Supreme Court had categorically said that manufacture of PoP idols and its immersion in water cannot be permitted.

“Despite this, it is not being effectively implemented in Maharashtra. The ban should be made mandatory under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, which invites penal provisions if not followed,” Bhattacharya said.

The Act requires registration of non-PoP idol makers and the list has to be published so people are aware of the same. However, no steps have been taken in the regard. The CPCB recommended using eco-friendly idols made of natural clay and biodegradable materials to mitigate these harms. Hence, there is a need to publish a list of idol makers using eco-friendly material.

Bhattacharya pointed out to the court that the Nagpur bench of the HC had taken suo motu (on its own) cognisance of the issue two years back and had issued several directions for implementation of the ban, but directions have not been compiled with.

The Nagpur bench had formed a technical committee to oversee the implementation of the ban. However, the committee has taken upon itself to examine the manner in which the pollution caused by the PoP idols can be mitigated. Also, the minutes of the meeting conducted by the committee reflects that the committee contemplated getting experts’ opinions on the validity of the CPCB ban. “This is ridiculous, as there can be no PoP at all,” Bhattacharya added.

The plea seeks formation of a district level committees for regular checks to ensure effective implementation of the revised CPCB guidelines. Also, action should be taken against idol makers who continue using PoP.

Advocate Tushad Kakalia, appearing for NGO Vanashakti, pointed out that the high court had last year issued a series of directions to ensure no PoP idols were immersed in the natural lake inside the suburban Aarey Milk Colony, which is an eco-sensitive zone.

The court had expanded the scope of the petition to ensure adherence to CPCB guidelines. The NGO has again moved an application for continuation of the directions during the coming Ganesh festival.

The HC has clubbed both the PILs and kept them for hearing in August.

Why idol makers continue using PoP –

PoP for the making of idols is commercially more viable than using clay.

PoP is a cheap material that is easy to use, and keeps the cost of operations low and the margin of profits on making idols high.

Clay suitable for idols is not easy to obtain, is a time consuming material to mould and perfect, and requires a higher degree of skill to manoeuvre.

Disadvantages of PoP –

Has several harmful effects on the environment Including water pollution, soil pollution, damage to the marine ecosystem, waste generation, and environmental degradation.

PoP idols do not dissolve easily in water, leading to the accumulation of non-biodegradable materials and disrupting the aquatic ecosystem.

When immersed in soil, PoP idols release harmful chemicals and heavy metals, contaminating the soil and affecting its fertility.

PoP idols contain chemicals such as Gypsum, Sulphur, Phosphorus, and Magnesium. Chemical paints used for colouring idols may contain Mercury, Cadmium, Arsenic, Lead, and Carbon, which are harmful to the nervous system and kidneys.

These heavy chemicals have bio-accumulative properties and can enter the food cycle through aquatic creatures like fish, ultimately affecting human consumption.

Non-biodegradable materials like plastics and thermocol used in idol decoration pose a threat to terrestrial and aquatic environments when immersed in water bodies.

Maharashtra

Under the Special Revision of Voter Lists 2026, Polling Station Level Officers (BLOs) will conduct a house visit survey between June 30 and July 29, 2026.

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As per the instructions of the Election Commission of India, a Special Revision (SIR) programme of voter lists is being implemented in the Mumbai region (Mumbai city and suburbs). Under this, Polling Station Level Officers (BLOs) will conduct house visits between June 30 and July 29, 2026. District Election Officer and Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has appealed to voters to cooperate by providing necessary information to the concerned BLOs.

Under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rules Programme, Polling Station Level Officers (BLOs) will provide voters with their enumeration forms during their house visits. The forms have to be filled with the required information, signed and a copy returned to the BLOs. Before the home visit, if possible, voters should search for their or their parents’ details (name, constituency, voter list part number, serial number) in the Special Revision of Previous Electoral Rolls (SIR) on the website https://voters.eci.gov.in or EC Net App. However, if your or your parents’ name is not in the Special Revision of Previous Electoral Rolls (SIR), you should produce any one of the following documents: Birth Certificate, Passport, Class 10 (Matric) or Educational Certificate, Resident Certificate, Caste Certificate, Government or Public Sector Employee/Pensioner Identity Card, Identity Card issued by the Family Authority, All documents of family registration. Government, Forest Rights Certificate, Proof of National Citizen Registration; Identity Card/Certificate issued by a bank, post office, Life Insurance Corporation or Government before July 1, 1987 or Aadhaar Card. The administration has also said that you should carry your recent passport size photograph. This is being reported. To know your details in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of previous voter lists, visit the official website of the Election Commission or click on the link https://voters.eci.gov.in/searchInSIR/S2UA4DPDF-JK4QWODSE. For more information, contact the nearest Voter Registration Officer’s office or helpline number 1800 22 1850 and make the revision of voter lists successful.

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Maharashtra

Law and order in the state is broken, demand for exemplary punishment of adulterers on the model of Gulf countries: Abu Asim Azmi

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Mumbai: The Pune Special Court today delivered its historic verdict in the Nasrapur rape and murder case under Bhor taluka of Pune district on June 29, 2026. The court has sentenced 65-year-old accused Bhimrao Prabhakar Kamble to death by hanging, considering this atrocity a major case. After this highly sensitive and major verdict, senior Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi raised serious questions about the current law and order situation in the state when asked questions by journalists in the Vidhan Bhawan area during the monsoon session. He said that there has been a huge increase in serious incidents like violence against women, rape, loot and murder in the state, due to which the law and order situation has become extremely worrying. Welcoming the Pune court’s verdict and expressing deep concern over the issue of women’s safety, MLA Abu Azmi said that immediate action should be taken against the accused of such serious crimes. Talking about the delay in the justice system, he gave the example of Gulf countries and said that in our country, cases are pending for years, on the contrary, in Gulf countries, the accused are sent to jail within four days and after paying a heavy fine, they are directly sent out of the country. In our country, the punishment for inhuman acts like rape and murder should be death only. He stressed that if 10 to 15 criminals are hanged immediately without any delay, then fear of law will be created among such criminals and incidents will be controlled. Directly targeting the security system and functioning of the police in Mumbai, MLA Azmi made serious allegations of corruption and negligence. He said that he himself has caught police personnel red-handed and has also shown strong evidence and photographs of it. He further said that a ‘police bat’ has been set up for the security of the city, but the police personnel are not present at any post and when asked, the excuse of shortage of staff is made. Expressing his anger, he said that if the government and police administration perform their duties responsibly, not a single person in the state can buy or sell drugs, but the current government is not committed to it. Expressing concern over the spread of drugs and drug networks in the state, he said that it is completely ruining our young generation. Earlier, the Chief Minister had promised to create an ‘anti-drug zone’ under every police station, but no concrete action is seen on this. The alarm bell is that the fear of law has disappeared and even minor disputes are leading to open attacks and assaults on the streets. At the end of the press conference, he mentioned a suspect caught in the backdrop of Muharram from whom 15,000 banned poisonous pills were recovered. Abu Asim Azmi demanded that the government conduct a thorough investigation into the entire matter and take strict action against whoever is found guilty.

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Maharashtra

SP leader Abu Asim demands inquiry into deadly poison bullet incident during Muharram procession, expresses concern over deteriorating law and order and unrest

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Mumbai: Senior SP leader Abu Asim Azmi expressed deep concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in Maharashtra in a press conference held at Mumbai Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan today. Referring to the recent knife attack on two people over a molestation dispute, he said that incidents of theft, dacoity, murder, and rape are increasing day by day in the state, while the administration is inactive. Azmi demanded that those involved in heinous crimes like rape be hanged immediately to instill fear in them. Expressing concern over the growing trend of drug abuse among the youth, he said that the administration and the police have completely failed to control it. He urged the police administration to expose the big conspiracy behind the accused being caught with suspicious chemicals (like rat poison or toxic substances) during Muharram or on any other occasion. The police had carried out their duties diligently, due to which the accused named Fayyaz has been arrested. It is also necessary to investigate who was involved in this conspiracy behind him. Azmi criticized the government for the leak of TET paper after NET and said that the government has failed to conduct the exam.

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