Focus on the environment during Ganesh Utsav; CM to hold a meeting.
Mumbai. The Maharashtra government informed the Bombay High Court on Wednesday that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis would hold a crucial meeting on July 31 with all stakeholders associated with the Ganesh festival. The meeting will focus on discussing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal urging citizens to install eco-friendly clay idols during the festival.
This information was conveyed to a bench of the Bombay High Court. Maharashtra’s Advocate General Milind Sathe informed the bench, comprising Justice Ajay Gadkari and Justice Kamal Khata, that the meeting convened by the Chief Minister aims to deliberate on measures for environmental conservation during the Ganesh festival.
Advocate General Milind Sathe told the court that the Chief Minister decided to call the meeting of all stakeholders in light of the appeal recently made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ program. He stated that the meeting would involve discussions with artisans involved in making Ganesh idols, religious organizations, administrative officials, and other stakeholders.
In his address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appealed to citizens to prioritize celebrating festivals in an eco-friendly manner. He had advocated for the use of clay idols during the Ganesh festival to protect rivers, ponds, and other water bodies from pollution.
The Ganesh festival is one of Maharashtra’s most prominent religious and cultural festivals. Every year, lakhs of people install idols of Lord Ganesha in their homes and public pandals (marquees). The idols are immersed after the conclusion of the festival. However, environmental concerns have long been raised regarding the use of idols made from Plaster of Paris (PoP) and chemical paints.
Environmental experts state that idols made of PoP do not dissolve easily in water, which can adversely affect water bodies after immersion. Additionally, the chemical paints used on the idols can also contribute to water pollution. For this reason, environmental organizations and the administration have been making efforts for several years to promote the use of clay idols. The Maharashtra government’s proposed meeting is being viewed as a significant step in this direction. The meeting may consider how to make eco-friendly Ganesh idols accessible to a wider audience and how to incentivize idol makers.
This issue is also crucial for the artisans who craft the idols. Many artists have been making Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols for years. If the government promotes eco-friendly clay idols, discussions could also cover providing artisans with new techniques, training, and necessary support. This approach would safeguard the environment while also protecting the livelihoods of those involved in idol making.
During a hearing at the Bombay High Court, the state government clarified its intention to move forward by taking all stakeholders along. The government aims to strike a balance between religious traditions and environmental conservation, ensuring that the faith associated with the Ganesh festival remains intact without causing harm to nature.
Every year during the Ganesh festival, a large number of public Ganesh mandals (organizing groups) are active across Mumbai and other cities in Maharashtra. Consequently, implementing eco-friendly measures poses a major challenge for the administration. Public awareness, better organizational arrangements, and active public participation are considered essential for this purpose.
The government’s future strategy is expected to become clear following the Chief Minister’s meeting scheduled for July 31. Discussions at the meeting are likely to cover issues such as arrangements for idol immersion, the promotion of eco-friendly idols, compliance with regulations, and public awareness initiatives.
For now, following the information provided to the Bombay High Court, all eyes are fixed on this meeting to be chaired by the Chief Minister. It is believed that the decisions taken during this meeting could play a pivotal role in the organization of the upcoming Ganesh festival and in efforts toward environmental conservation.