Authorities are expected to implement PoP idols ban during Ganesh Chaturthi: Karnataka High Court

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Thursday disposed of a petition filed by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) seeking directions to various authorities for implementation of the 2023 notification enforcing a ban on Plastic of Paris (PoP) idols.

A division bench headed by Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru observed that it expected the concerned authorities to implement the September 15, 2023 government order in accordance with law.

Considering the environmental hazards, the state government had invoked the stringent provisions under the Environment Protection Act and issued the order banning the manufacturing of PoP idols.

Besides idols of Ganesha and Gauri during the festival, the order enforced the ban on any PoP idols across the state. The order stated that the PoP idols when immersed in water would bring down the dissolved oxygen in water and increase its hardness.

The petitioner KSPCB stated that with Ganesha festival approaching, the market is already seeing PoP idols. The petition specifically identified two such manufacturers in Hulimavu village at Kumbalgodu Hobli.

The counsel appearing for the KSPCB said that the 2023 government order has not been complied and two manufacturers were found to be operating. The advocate said immersion of PoP idols has an environmental effect on the water bodies and also said that it violates Article 21 of the constitution.

The petition sought directions to the Deputy Commissioner, Bengaluru City (Urban), Tahsildar of Bengaluru South, Project Development Officer (PDO) of Kumbalgodu Gram Panchayat and Superintendent of Police (Ramanagara district) to implement the government order.

On the other hand, the government advocate said that certain FIRs have been registered in connection with the manufacturing and selling of PoP idols and further necessary action would be taken in accordance with law. The bench noted that it does not consider to pass any orders on the petition in the wake of the Government Order already in operation and that the same needs to be implemented.

“Undisputedly the issue is serious. We expect that the state implements the order (September 2023) with full seriousness in accordance with law,” the bench said while disposing off the petition.