Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed officials to prepare a policy that ensures the traditional immersion of Ganpati idols in the sea continues and can be legally defended in court. The Bombay High Court has banned the immersion of Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols in seawater.
On Friday, a meeting focused on promoting eco-friendly celebrations of the festival was chaired by the chief minister. It was attended by Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar and senior government officials, including Brihanmumbai Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani. The meeting took place at the Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai.
A PoP Ganesha idol being crafted. File Pic/Shadab Khan
During the meeting, Fadnavis emphasised the need to promote the use of natural materials and eco-friendly colours for idol making. Earlier, the government had requested renowned scientist Dr Anil Kakodkar to recommend a solution that allows the continuation of traditional immersion practices while also being legally sustainable. Dr Kakodkar submitted a report with his recommendations to the government.
A statement issued by the Chief Minister`s Office said that Dr Kakodkar`s report suggested conducting a scientific study on deep-sea immersion of large idols. Other measures, such as immediate beach-cleaning efforts, were also discussed in the meeting. Shelar, during the meeting, proposed the use of artificial lakes for the immersion of smaller idols and urged citizens to aise awareness about using eco-friendly materials.
Phase One of Metro Line 5 to be ready by March 2027
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reviewed the progress of Metro Line 5 on Friday. During the presentation, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) informed him that Phase 1 of the Metro Line 5 — connecting the suburbs of Thane, Bhiwandi, and Kalyan — will be ready by March 2027. Phase 1 (Thane to Dhamankar Naka, 11.90 km) is 96 per cent complete and is expected to be operational by March 2027. The full corridor will span 34.23 km with 19 stations (18 elevated and one underground). It was also informed during the meeting that a study is underway to extend the Metro line from Ulhasnagar to Chikhloli, near Ambernath.
