The Government of Maharashtra has banned plastic since last month and the Ganesh Utsav Samithis cannot use plastic and thermocol for the decoration of Ganesh Pandals. They will be fined and the decorations will be removed. The sellers and users will be taken to task and this is to protect the environment.
Majority of the decoration for the Ganesh pandals will be in plastic and thermocol. Like plastic, thermocol is not biodegradable. Sometimes along with the Ganesh idol the decorations are also dumped in the water causing choking of the drains and polluting the water. This is also hazardous to the aquatic life.
Tonnes of Thermacol was being used for decades for the decoration of Ganesh Pandals in a big way and this time the organisers have to chose a different material for the decorations.
The Ganesh Utsav mandalas are planning to approach the Government for the waiver of the rules and that thermocol may be allowed for the Ganesh Chaturthi. But it looks like the court may not allow for any waiver.
Ganesh Chaturthi is a mega event in Mumbai and political parties like Shivasena are also involved in a big way. It has to be seen how the Sena leaders would react over the matter that the thermocol should not be used at the pandals for decoration.
The thermocol users and fabricators association has requested the Government to allow the decoration for this year and that they would come with alternatives for next year.
But the court opined that even if the users give in writing that they would dispose of the plastic and thermocol in writing, in the end ultimately they will just ignore and spoil the environment. It has to be seen as what direction the Government would take on this issue for Ganesh Chaturthi that would be celebrated soon.
