PoP idols immersed despite TS HC ban

HYDERABAD: Thousands of plaster of Paris idols , were immersed in the Hussainsagar and other lakes, in spite of a ban imposed by the Telangana High Court.

Mamidi Venu Madhav, a petitioner on whose plea the court had passed the order, was not available for comment on Thursday. The court has allowed him to approach the court if he comes across any instance of violation of the order.

The High Court banned the immersion of PoP idols in water bodies while it was dealing with a petition filed by the Telangana Ganesh Murti Kalakar Welfare Association, Dhoolpet, and eight others challenging Clause 2.0 of the revised guidelines issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), New Delhi.

In 2021, the Telangana High Court directed the government and GHMC to issue a circular by March 31, 2022, banning the manufacture and sale of PoP Ganesh, in accordance with Central PCB guidelines. However, neither the government nor the civic body complied with the orders.

When the idol-makers came up with PoP idols and were trying to sell them, GHMC and police officials raised objections. Challenging the same, a petition was filed in 2022 by the idol-makers. Though the court had allowed the sale of PoP idols in 2022, it directed that there should be a blanket ban on the manufacture and sale of PoP idols from 2023 onwards.