Court questions Mumbai civic body's order to immerse idol in eco-sensitive lakes

The Bombay High Court has recently issued a directive to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), demanding a detailed report on the measures taken to prevent idol immersion in the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of Mumbai during the upcoming Ganapati festival.

The Bombay High Court has recently issued a directive to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), demanding a detailed report on the measures taken to prevent idol immersion in the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of Mumbai during the upcoming Ganapati festival.

The court's order came in response to a petition filed by a non-governmental organisation Vanshakti, which challenged the BMC's decision to permit idol immersion in three lakes located within the Aarey Milk Colony.

After going through the permission letters issued by the civic body, the bench, comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Arif Doctor, said, "We can only issue directions to the police. Don't comply with our order, but at least comply with the mandate of Parliament."

Expressing confusion over the BMC's permission letters, the bench added, "We fail to understand how letters have been issued by the corporation. It is also not comprehensible how the BMC has mentioned it as an immersion site."

The court also called for an affidavit from the BMC detailing its compliance with the statutory notification under the Environment Protection Act and the court's guidelines.

The bench noted that the central government's notification, which declared the Sanjay Gandhi National Park an eco-sensitive zone, also included the three lakes in the Aarey Milk Colony. It further observed that the BMC seemed to have disregarded its responsibilities, particularly in relation to pollution control norms that advocate for the use of artificial ponds for idol immersion.