Mumbai: The Bombay High Court directed the BMC and civic bodies in Maharashtra to impose the ban on use of Plaster of Paris (PoP) Ganesh Idols and immersion of the PoP idols in natural spots, the civic bodies have put notices around the visarjan spots informing the citizens about the HC order.

The Maghi Ganesh Festival's one and half day visarjan took place on Sunday night. However, as many devotees already PoP idols, the civic bodies appealed them to not immerse the idols in natural spots (lakes and seashores) complying with the HC directions. The PoP idols however can be immersed in artificial ponds installed by the municipal corporations for Ganpati visarjan.

After one and half days' visarjan, the Maghi Ganpati visarjan will take place on the fifth, seventh and tenth day of the festival.

Environmentalists Rohit Joshi who had filed the PIL in the HC against the use of PoP idols said, "We have sent out volunteers to ensure PoP idols are not immersed in lakes, creeks and seashores." However, the devotees with big idols stress on visarjan at natural spots only as the as at several locations the artificial ponds are not big enough.

The next hearing for Joshi's PIL is scheduled on March 10 when a final judgement on ban on PoP Ganesh Idols, directions to idol manufacturers to comply with Central Pollution Control Board's directions is expected.