HC: Ban on immersion of PoP Ganesh idols in Hussain Sagar challenged

Hyderabad: The guidelines by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in New Delhi which prohibit immersion of Ganesh Idols made of Plaster of Paris (PoP) in Hussain Sagar were challenged in Telangana High Court.

On Friday, the Telangana High Court heard a writ petition filed by the Telangana Ganesh Murti Kalakar Welfare Association in Dhoolpet, Hyderabad, and eight others, challenging the validity of the revised guidelines Clause 2 issued by the CPCB.

During the hearing, Harender Prasad, Special Government Pleader, informed the Division Bench — comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice NV Shravan Kumar — that the Ganesh Idols made of PoP are not immersed in Hussain Sagar. Rather, the idols are immersed in the baby ponds (artificial ponds created by the GHMC specifically for the purpose of immersing Ganesh idols).

During an earlier round of hearings, the state informed the court that more than 100 baby ponds were created across the GHMC limits for this purpose. The special GP informed the court that revised guidelines Clause 2(i) issued by the CPCB were approved by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in New Delhi in an order dated July 5, 2021.

Further, the revised guidelines of the CPCB were also upheld by the Bombay High Court and the Telangana High Court. The special GP also informed the court that the Supreme Court had dismissed a petition challenging the orders of the NGT Chennai upholding the revised guidelines of CPCB.

The Chief Justice Bench mentioned that the interim order passed by the court on July 21, 2022, prohibiting the immersion of Ganesh idols made of Plaster of Paris in the Hussain Sagar is still in force. The Chief Justice Bench adjourned the writ petition for further examination of the validity of the revised guidelines Clause 2(i) issued by the CPCB in New Delhi.

The next hearing was posted to September 25.